Kendal’s Churches – Part 1

To show you the best churches and chapels on offer in Kendal (in my humble opinion), I'd like to take you on a short virtual' tour of the town, describing the whereabouts of each church or chapel and giving some information about the history of each building.

We'll start our tour at the bottom of Windermere Road, where our first two visits are sited.

The Wesleyan Chapel: The Wesleyan Chapel sits on the North side of Windermere Road (the A5284), looking across towards St Thomas' (which we'll come to next) The chapel is an imposing late 19th century building, dominating the junction of the A5284 and Burneside road. The chapel has a golden colouring to its Palladian style faade, due to the Prudhoe stone used in it building. The current chapel was built in 1882, and opened in 1883. Before this building was erected, a smaller chapel was used, on the same site, from around 1808, and before that, from around 1753, the Wesleyans met in a room in the Old Play House in the Market square in Kendal. This building is currently occupied by the bookmakers, and the Working Men's Institute (This building can be found in the corner of the market square between the Market Hall and the George and Dragon public house) The chapel is still used today, and has been known to attract congregations of hundreds for its Methodist services.

St Thomas: If you cross over the road, you'll see the church of St Thomasa back-to-front' church that lies on the South side of the A5284. The church is back to front for one very important reason. The site, on which it was erected, was called Fell Field, and this area was a marshy area that the areas above tended to drain into. As a result of the poor condition of the earth, the tower had to be built at the East end of the church where the earth was more solid, and not the West end ..hence our back to front church. The church was designed by George Webster, with the foundation stone being laid on the 4th of August 1835. The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester on the 5th of July 1837. It was built to satisfy the need for a further place of worship with the ever growing population of Kendal, especially to the North and the East of the town. When completed there was ample seating..for around 850 people in all. The church cost the grand total of £2900 from private donations, £1000 from a single benefactor, and another £50 as a legacy from a will. The church underwent some slight redesigns in the 1860's; seating was re-housed in different parts of the church, a vestry was built, and the organ was moved from its original position to the South end of the building. In 1969\1970, the four large pinnacles on the tower were reduced in size, probably for safety reasons. For the most part though, the church has remained pretty much intact and unchanged in its 171 year history, with the addition of further buildings and facilities being made to the North of the church and not affecting the core building itself. Great views can be had of this church from the walks above Windermere road, especially the last few yards of the walk through Maude's meadow, and coming down from Low Fellside.

All Hallows: Now we're going to find a disused church, high up on Low Fell Side. The best route is to head into town, and turn right into Wainwright's yard. Once there, proceed through Booths car park, and turn right onto Low Fellside. The church is situated at the top of a set of stairs high above the town, with great views out towards Kendal castle. The church was built in 1864 as a mission church, to serve the poverty stricken area of Low Fellside. It remained a chapel of ease within the parish served by Holy Trinity in Kirkland until it was closed in July 2002. The building has now been renovated and converted into stylish town houses. What a great new lease of life this building now has. It retains the tiny belfry (although the bell has been removed for safety reasons) and the fine sandstone windows remain in situ. Various history books mention a fine East window' but the glass that made up these windows seems to have been replaced with clear windows.

The United Reformed Church: From All Hallows church, make your way back into town, and turn right towards the Town Hall. You should be able to see the Town Hall clock from the end of Wainwright's Yard. Pass Woolworths on your right, and cross the road and head towards Sandes Hospital. The yard (number 102) is on your right. Sometimes the gates are locked, but if you're lucky, they may be open. When you enter the yard, the fine sandstone faade of the late 19th century building rises above the narrow yard that leads up to it, four tall arched windows crowning a peaked set of double doors. Either side of the doors, there are two memorial stones set into the walls, commemorating the building of the church in 1896. The church was designed by local Kendalian architect Stephen Shaw, and was opened for business' in 1898, when the congregation moved from their old chapel in the New Inn yard. Originally called the Zion chapel, the congregation and ministers agreed to join with the congregation and ministers of St Johns, and join the newly created United Reformed church in 1972. The name Zion' is to be found on much of the memorabilia within the church now. From high up on Fellside, the church is easily visible, the apse at the West of the church helping to identify it. On the day I visited, the doors were open and I was able to have a look around. The interior is circled with a high balcony that goes around two thirds of the inside. The balconies and the pews are all made of finely finished dark wood, and add to the austere look the chapel has. To the East end of the building, the apse rises to around thirty feet, and is painted a rich red between the dark wood supports. It almost has the look of a theatre about it.