Kirkoswald, St Oswald

Tradition attributes the first Christian church on the site to King Oswald of Northumbria in the 7th century, the Holy Well outside the west window being the focus of the previous "well" or "spring" worship. The first stone church was built about 1130 though little of this remains and the main features date from 1523.

In 1523 the church became collegiate through a charitable foundation of Thomas, Lord Dacre and his wife, Elizabeth of Greystoke, of Kirkoswald Castle. A small community of working parish clergy lived at the College, across the road, but the dissolution brought an end to this in 1547. The flagged approach to the church is the old Priests' walk, and is still the property of the College - since 1590 the home of the Fetherstonhaugh family.

The Holy Well decided the site of the church, whilst that of the village was fixed by the mills, dependent on the waterpower of the Raven Beck. In consequence, the bell tower built in 1743 and rebuilt in 1893, is sited on the adjacent hill so that the bells could be heard in the village. Kirkoswald was a busy place in the time of King John when it was granted a Market Charter.

The front porch is made of wood, built in 1523 and has stood the test of time. The baptism font is probably Norman. The window behind the font is thought to be Tudor; also embedded into the sill is an Arm of the Old Churchyard Cross. The base of the chancel arch is Saxon, also the "Bowtells", which would have been part of the arch. The organ was built around 1883; 2 manual, by Harrison & Harrison of Durham. The stained glass windows on the north and south side of the chancel, installed in 1846, depict the coat of arms of the Fetherstonhaugh, the Dacre, and the Musgrave families. The east window depicts St Oswald, St Cuthbert, the crucified Christ and the four Evangelists.

Outside at the east end in the retaining wall can be seen an old sundial, also a consecration cross, cut where the Bishop made the sign of the cross as he consecrated church or furniture. St Oswald's Well, at the west end of the church is fed by a spring under the building.

Postcode: CA10 1DQ

Opening Times
Daily, during daylight hours
Easter to the end of October

Service Times

1st Sunday	10am	Holy Communion
2nd Sunday	9am	Holy Communion
3rd Sunday	10am	Morning Prayer followed by short Holy Communion (Said)
4th Sunday	10am	Benefice Service at one of the group churches **
When there are five Sundays in a month, the following pattern operates:
4th Sunday	9am	Holy Communion
5th Sunday	10am	Benefice Service at one of the group churches **

**(details posted on notice boards)