Rockcliffe: St Mary the Virgin

Name:
Rockcliffe: St Mary the Virgin
Record Type:
Church
Church code:
607064
Diocese:
Carlisle
Archdeaconry:
Carlisle
Parish:
Rockcliffe

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 607064 St Mary the Virgin, Rockcliffe
Caption:
Exterior image of 607064 St Mary the Virgin, Rockcliffe
Description:
Photograph of the exterior of St Mary the Virgin, Rockcliffe.
Year / Date:
2010, May 18
Copyright:
Colin Kinnear
Originator:
Colin Kinnear

Summary Description

A delightful church designed by James Stewart of Carlisle in 1848 replacing an earlier medieval chapel style building. Built with the financial support of the Mounsey family, the church was clearly designed as an architectural focal point in the landscape where it would have formed part of the picturesque view from Castleton House, the magnificent home of the Mounsey's. St. Mary's is designed as a Gothic Revival church in Decorated style with motifs and patterns such as lancet windows with curvilinear tracery and ball flowers. The church is built in buff coloured borders sandstone, the offset slender broached tower was rebuilt in 1890 following a lightning strike making an elegant landmark - the 1849 clock located halfway up the south face of the tower has an unusual rack striking mechanism. The attractive east and west windows were made by John Scott of Carlisle, the east window being a late C19 replacement, the original being moved to St Mary Magdalene, Gilsland, also designed by Stewart. The transept, that formerly housed the Mounsey pews, is now the RAF chapel with furniture gifted from the nearby RAF 14 MU. The marble and alabaster font and stone pulpit add craft and charm. The churchyard slopes towards the River Eden and is contained by a sandstone wall with wrought iron fencing. It includes a C10/C11 wheel-head cross mounted on a dragon carved shaft together with C12 and C13 grave covers that are located in the church.

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

Antiquarian Horological Society (2015) AHS Turret Clock database Unique Number ID: 648 [Digital Archive/Data]
Alexander P Kapp (2008, April 24) Interior image of 607064 St Mary the Virgin, Rockcliffe [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior image of 607064 St Mary the Virgin, Rockcliffe
Colin Kinnear (2010, May 18) Exterior image of 607064 St Mary the Virgin, Rockcliffe [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 607064 St Mary the Virgin, Rockcliffe
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/12256/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 2 Bells [Archive/Index]
2 Bells