Bridekirk
| Bridekirk | |
| Cumberland | |
|---|---|
 St Bridget's Church, Bridekirk | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NY117335 |
| Location: | 54°41’20"N, 3°22’8"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 735 (2011) |
| Post town: | Cockermouth |
| Postcode: | CA13 |
| Dialling code: | 01900 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Cumberland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Workington |
Bridekirk is a township and a parish in western Cumberland, around two miles north of the River Derwent and about the same distance from the nearest large town, which is Cockermouth.
Bridekirk stands just outside the defined bounds of the Lake District National Park. It is not far from the Maryport and Carlisle Railway Line.
Parishes
Bridekirk takes its name from the parish church, the Church of St Bride (which is to say St Bridget).
The Parish of Bridekirk, served by the village church here, was once broader than today. At the 1811 census it had a population of 1,552. It has since been divided by the formation of separate parishes:
- Great Broughton, in 1863, which included Ribton.
- Christ Church, Cockermouth, in 1865, was given part of the township of Papcastle.
- Broughton Moor parish in 1898 was formed with Little Broughton
Bridekirk's ecclesiastical parish now only contains Bridekirk itself, Papcastle, Dovenby, and Tallentire.[1]
The civil parish of Bridekirk is similar, containing Bridekirk, Tallentire and Dovenby.
St Bridget's Church
A wooden church had existed here since ancient times, but was replaced with a stone church in 1130.[2] Before the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, St Bridget's Church was owned by the monastery of Guisborough.
Following the deterioration of the building over the years, a new church was built by the architects Corey and Ferguson in 1868 alongside the ruins of the chancel of the old church. Incorporated in the new church are several elements of the old church: the tympanum and archway of the south door, the door in the south transept, and the former chancel arch. The new church is in neo-Norman style.[2][3]
Inside the church, the 12th-century font is possibly a remaining feature of the original church. For a Norman sculpture in the United Kingdom, it is in very good condition. The font was carved by Richard of Durham with the description, "Richard he me wrought, and to this beauty me brought." The font has runic decoration and portrays the story of Adam and Eve and also shows Christ's baptism.[2]
Outside the church, near the old chapel, there are a number of ancient tombstones and coffin lids.[2]
St. Bridget's was not simply an ordinary country church in the Middle Ages, but a wealthy and important church which received significant gifts.[4]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Bridekirk) |
References
- ↑ A vision of Britain: Bridekirk
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Cumberland and Westmorland tourism: St Bridget's
- ↑ Bridget's, Bridekirk
- ↑ Lecture by Dr. Hugh Doherty, 2011 - The First St Bridget's Lecture (Bridekirk Parish)
