Farlam: St Thomas a Becket

Name:
Farlam: St Thomas a Becket
Record Type:
Church
Church code:
607048
Diocese:
Carlisle
Archdeaconry:
Carlisle
Parish:
Farlam

Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?
This is a Grade II Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?
There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

The church is not in a Conservation Area

Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?
This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
 

Approximate Date

Approximate Date:
Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 607048 Farlam St Thomas a Becket
Caption:
Exterior image of 607048 Farlam St Thomas a Becket
Description:
Photograph of the exterior of St Thomas a Becket church Farlam taken 19 February 2003
Year / Date:
2003
Copyright:
John Charlton
Originator:
John Charlton

Summary Description

The church sits dramatically on a knoll on the downward slopes of the pennines overlooking the village of Kirkhouse. As the name implies, the church replaces an earlier medieval building although it is unclear where the original structure stood. Designed by Salvin and built in 1860 using buff sandstone, it crisply constructed with clean lines and modelled elevations that create shadow and texture. Salvin has created an attractive Gothic Revival church that incorporates a number of stylistic themes that veer towards Early English and created a series of interesting internal spaces. The north aisle includes three gables that project beyond the building line, introducing light and a serrated ceiling comprising a series of boarded pitches. The nave transfers through a substantial pointed arch into the chancel where the east window is framed by a polygonal ceiling, strangely at odds with the arched ceiling in the nave. The pulpit was magically accessed by internal steps from the vestry, but this arrangement has been changed by the addition of a timber stair directly from the nave. C19 stained glass, including one commemorating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, and a George I cypher introduce colour and decoration. The church has undergone extensive adaptions to provide new facilities with some unfortunate and deleterious impacts on the integrity of Salvin’s design and the fabric of the church. This includes a kitchen in the north transept, toilets beneath a gallery at the west end and the removal of choir stalls to create more flexible space. There are plans to introduce further modifications to enrich the life of the church and its community.

Visiting and Facilities

The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
 

Church Website

Church Website:
http://farlamparishchurch.co.uk

Sources and Further Information

John Charlton (2003) Exterior image of 607048 Farlam St Thomas a Becket [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 607048 Farlam St Thomas a Becket
CWGC (2016) Commonwealth War Graves Commission CWGC Unique File Reference Number: 3406 [Bibliography/Data]
Number of War Graves: 4
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/12243/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~103086~115553 [Archive/Graphic material]

Groundplan

ICBS File Number - 05379

Coverage - 1860

Created by ?SALVIN, Anthony: b. 1799 - d. 1881 of London

Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 2 Bells [Archive/Index]
2 Bells