Irthington: St Kentigern

Name:
Irthington: St Kentigern
Record Type:
Church
Church code:
607055
Diocese:
Carlisle
Archdeaconry:
Carlisle
Parish:
Irthington

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 607055 St Kentigern, Irthington
Caption:
Exterior image of 607055 St Kentigern, Irthington
Description:
Photograph of the exterior of St Kentigern, Irthington.
Year / Date:
2016, November 24
Copyright:
The Carlisle Kid
Originator:
The Carlisle Kid

Summary Description

A church of great surprise and endearment with an external appearance that reads as substantially Early English style C19 church dominated by a robust if slightly elaborate three storey tower. A clue to a longer history can be seen in the earlier, less regular walls of the chancel. Once inside, its architecture tells a story of a chequered past going back to the C12. The C19 exterior of the nave and its aisles cloak a colonnade of C12 pillars supporting rounded arches that lead to a C12 chancel. The deeply set chancel arch is considerable and decorated with spur and crocket capitals and dog tooth carving with a powerfully sculpted bearded head at the base of the outer arch. The nave column capitals are carved with unusual leaf and dagger motifs, but on one side only; probably the consequence of a change to the shape of the church following its partial destruction during early medieval border wars. The chancel is made with stone possibly robbed from the neighbouring Stanegate and Hadrian's Wall and incorporates a C12 priest's door. However, the round headed lancet windows were added in the C19 to complete the Gothic make-over. Adding to the surprises, a stained glass window made by William Wailes to commemorate the life of a 118 year old resident and one commemorating a victim of a Maori attack complement more traditional ecclesiastic themed windows.

Visiting and Facilities

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

Church Website

Church Website:
Work in progress - can you help?

Sources and Further Information

The Carlisle Kid (2016, November 24) Exterior image of 607055 St Kentigern, Irthington [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 607055 St Kentigern, Irthington
CWGC (2016) Commonwealth War Graves Commission CWGC Unique File Reference Number: 3408 [Bibliography/Data]
Number of War Graves: 2
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/12248/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 6 Bells [Archive/Index]
6 Bells