Melling, St Wilfrid

This lovely old church has been known to many generations of locals as 'The Cathedral of the Lune Valley'. It is built on a sloping site and the former vicarage garden next door contains the remains of a Saxon keep and Norman motte and bailey earthwork which is visible from the churchyard.

Documentary evidence of a 10th century preaching cross, which once stood in the churchyard, suggests that Christians have worshipped at this site for over 1000 years. The first church was Norman but it was destroyed in 1322 by a Scots raiding party. The present church was rebuilt in the mid 14th century and has 18th century additions. The church was probably disfigured during the Civil War, when the Parliamentarians were besieging nearby Thurland Castle, but fragments of 14th century stained glass can be found in some of the windows. In the late 19th century, the then vicar, William Grenside, who was a friend of John Ruskin, Gothicised parts of the church.

The glories of this church are its architectural diversity, the memorials to local landowners and their families and its brass candelabras.

Opening Times
Daily, 10am - 4pm

Telephone: 01524 274 259

Service Times

1st, 3rd and 4th Sunday	10.30am	Holy Communion
2nd Sunday	10.30am	Family Service