Loweswater, St Bartholomew

The first mention of a place of worship at Loweswater occurs in 1125 in the records of St Bees Priory, where it is stated "Randulphus de Lindsey gave the chapel and two bovates of land to our mother church".

As a chapel of ease, linked to the Priory, monks from the priory would come and take services. Popular tradition tells of bodies for burial being taken all the way to St Bees along the corpse road through Holme Wood.

The church building as seen today dates almost entirely from 1884, when the small, plain Lakeland Chapel consecrated in 1829 was extensively altered, enlarged and improved at a cost of £1,200. Part of the money for these improvements came from the sale of a 14th century bell from an earlier mediaeval chapel at Loweswater.

The alterations and enlargement were effected in anticipation of a large increase in the congregation size resulting from the discovery of a lead vein running through the valley. A lead mine was opened at Godferhead and the inhabitants of Loweswater and the surrounding area invested a large sum of money in the project, in the hope of a dramatic increase in the population and congregations. In the event, the mining venture failed to live up to its optimistic promise, the investment was lost, and the population remained static.

The small simple chapel that was built on this site between 1827 and 1829, and consecrated to St Bartholomew, contained a three-decker pulpit, box pews and a gallery for the choir. These all disappeared in the 1884 alterations, which gave the church its new lofty roof, chancel, vestry and organ chamber. New flooring and greatly increased seating capacity, as well as the entrance porch in the northwest corner were also part of these alterations. However, close inspection of the west wall (where the bell rope hangs) reveals the original entrance to the 1829 building.

The church occupies one of the finest sites that can be imagined, surrounded by magnificent Lakeland scenery. The east windows are clear glass to provide an uplifting view to the fells.

Opening Times
Daily during reasonable daylight hours

Service Times

1st Sunday	10.30am	Parish Communion CW
2nd Sunday	8am	Holy Communion BCP
3rd Sunday	10.30am	Parish Communion CW
4th Sunday	10.30am	Matins or Holy Communion (alternate months)
5th Sunday	8am or 10.30am	Holy Communion BCP (alternate months)