Church Of St Margaret Holy Rood

The Church of St Margaret Holy Rood was built between 1851 and 1853 by Travis and Mangnall, and extended several times between 1863 and 1899, with a restoration in 1985-6. The restoration work was carried out by E G Thorne. The church is constructed of rock-faced snecked stone with ashlar dressings, and has slate roofs with stone coped gables. It is built in the Decorated style, featuring buttresses and angle buttresses with set-offs. The building consists of a long nave and chancel, combined, with gabled aisles, a north porch, a south-east vestry, and a south-west porch (now a columbarium). The east end has a three-light window with crocketed pinnacles rising from the diagonal buttresses, and a two-light window to the sides of the chancel. A bell turret with open octagonal bell openings and a spirelet is situated within the angle of the north aisle. The north aisle features a blind window to the east and two-light windows to the side, with a gabled north porch. The south side incorporates a vestry with a low-pitched roof and a battlemented parapet to the east, followed by a two-light window to the end of the aisle, and further two-light windows along the side. The south-west porch also has a battlemented parapet. The west end has a three-light window to the nave, with a crocketed pinnacle rising from buttresses, and two-light windows to the aisles.

Inside, the chancel contains an outstanding reredos, panelling, choir stalls, and other fittings in an Arts and Crafts style. These elements were largely designed by Dan Gibson of Windermere and crafted by Arthur W. Simpson of Kendal, with the stalls dating to 1897-9 and the remainder produced over the period to 1920. Mosaic panels are positioned above the sides of the window. The floor is of marble and mosaic, and a richly carved hammer-beam roof covers the nave and chancel. A carved west screen, also by Simpson and dating to 1920, depicts figures of a soldier and St. Margaret by W.Aumonier. A war memorial of 1920, also by Simpson, is present. The font is supported by clustered columns. Stained glass windows are by Ward and Hughes, among others, and by Shrigley and Hunt. Recent fittings of the late 20th century include two paintings by Graeme Willson, a Crucifixion suspended over the nave altar, and a Madonna and Child in the Lady Chapel, alongside a carved altar and font cover.

The church is a well-detailed building, notable for its high-quality fittings from both the 19th and 20th centuries.