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St Michael, Torpenhow
St Michael and All Angels Church
Torpenhow Church
locality:-   Torpenhow
civil parish:-   Blennerhasset and Torpenhow (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   church
coordinates:-   NY20593980
1Km square:-   NY2039
10Km square:-   NY23
references:-   : 2005: Diocese of Carlisle, Directory 2004/5


photograph
BMS26.jpg (taken 29.9.2006)  
photograph
BMS27.jpg (taken 29.9.2006)  
The church dates from about 1120.

evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 36 15) 
placename:-  St Michael's Church
source data:-   Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.
"St. Michael's Church (Vicarage) / Grave yard"

evidence:-   old map:- Nurse 1918
source data:-   Map, The Diocese of Carlisle, Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire North of the Sands, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Rev Euston J Nurse, published by Charles Thurnam and Sons, 11 English Street, Carlisle, Cumberland, 2nd edn 1939.
image
NUR1NY13.jpg
"TORPENHOW"
item:-  JandMN : 27
Image © see bottom of page


photograph
CBV34.jpg  Bell.
(taken 10.10.2014)  

 stained glass

 kneelers

evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Church of St Michael
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL / / / BLENNERHASSET AND TORPENHOW / ALLERDALE / CUMBRIA / I / 72321 / NY2057839804"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Parish Church. Early C12 with mid C12 and C13 extensions, C15 and C17 alterations; restorations of 1882 and 1913. Roughly-coursed mixed sandstone on chamfered plinth under graduated greenslate roof with coped gables. 3-bay nave with aisles, north transept, open west bellcote and south porch; lower 3-bay chancel. 1882 gabled porch has blocked south door with present door in Tudor-style surround to side. Blocked west doorway with 2-light C15 window above. South aisle has hollow-chamfered 2-light windows, that in east wall having round head under hoodmould. Battlemented parapet. North aisle has blocked flat-headed doorway and late C19 2-light window. 3-light tracery window in north transept. Chancel has narrow round-headed Norman windows in north wall and similar blocked windows in east and south walls, with replacing lancet in south wall and intersecting-traceried 3-light east window. Interior of nave has round-column arcade under round arches with Norman carved responds. Norman south doorway has columned surround with carved capitals under zigzag and rope arch, over which is a sundial dated 1871. Small medieval graveslab in porch, others used as lintel for west window and 2 in the blocking of the west door flanking a C17 inscribed stone T.T. A.T. Carved Norman font on later stem. C17 painted panelled-wood ceiling was given by Thomas Addison in 1689 and is thought to have come from the hall of one of the Livery Companies in London. Norman chancel arch of 2 orders of zigzags on columns with carved capitals. Open timber roof in north transept has date 1614 and initials. 1966 vestry screen. South aisle wall plaque to Reverend Thomas Nicholson, former vicar of the parish, 1735. Chancel has C19 or C20 panelled ceiling. Tomb recess in south wall probably contained medieval effigy now in south aisle. Aumbry in east wall and piscina with sun motif. Panelled choir stalls 1882; all other furnishings and fittings are C20."

evidence:-   old print:- Calverley 1899
item:-  font
source data:-   Font:-
image  click to enlarge
CV1143.jpg
Sketch by W G Collingwood. 
item:-  JandMN : 190
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old painting:- 
item:-  font
source data:-   Painting, watercolour, Torpenhow Font, at St Michael and All Angels Church, Torpenhow, Cumberland, by William Gershom Collingwood, 1899.
image  click to enlarge
PR0843.jpg
Study of a font with carved decoration of interwoven arches above interlacing bands within which are set trefoiled twigs; the stem bears heraldic devices. The font is Norman. 
Drawn to illustrate Notes on the Early Sculptured Crosses, Shrines and Monuments in the Present Diocese of Carlisle, by Rev William Slater Calverley, published by T Wilson, Kendal 1899; opposite p.271. 
initialled & inscribed &dated at bottom left:-  "WGC Torpenhow 30.6.99"
inscribed at top centre:-  "Torpenhow Font."
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1902.18.29
Image © Tullie House Museum

 cross slabs

 sundial

 scratch dial


photograph
BMS28.jpg  Panel of the painted ceiling in the nave, done at the charge of Thomas Addison, in 1689.
(taken 29.9.2006)  
photograph
BMS29.jpg  Organ.
(taken 29.9.2006)  
photograph
BMS30.jpg  Organ pipes.
(taken 29.9.2006)  
photograph
CBV10.jpg  Font.
(taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
CBV08.jpg  Effigy, in porch.
(taken 10.10.2014)  


photograph
CBV07.jpg  South door.
(taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
CBV09.jpg  South door.
(taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
CBV17.jpg (taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
CBV23.jpg (taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
CBV27.jpg  Chancel arch.
(taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
CBV28.jpg (taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
BMS31.jpg  Capital on the north side of the chancel arch; dark red sandstone, north is the side of darkness.
(taken 29.9.2006)  
photograph
BMS32.jpg  Capital on the south side of the chancel arch; light coloured sandstone, south is the side of lightness.
(taken 29.9.2006)  
photograph
CBV26.jpg  Re-used roman stone?
(taken 10.10.2014)  

MN photo:-  
The ceiling in the nave is rumoured to have come from a guild house in London.

photograph
CBV18.jpg (taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
CBV19.jpg (taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
CBV20.jpg (taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
CBV21.jpg (taken 10.10.2014)  
photograph
CBV22.jpg (taken 10.10.2014)  


photograph
CBV29.jpg  Painting by N L Gem, before 1880.
(taken 10.10.2014)  

dedication
person:-    : St Michael
person:-    : All Angels
place:-   Torpenhow / Carlisle Diocese

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