Church Of St Andrew

The Church of St Andrew is a parish church dating back to the 12th century, with additions from the 13th century and restorations in 1810 and 1875. It is constructed of red sandstone rubble with a string course, with the aisles built of longer blocks of pink sandstone, buttresses, and 19th-century red sandstone battlemented parapets. The roof is of graduated greenslate with coped gables and a cross finial. The church features a three-story square west tower, a three-bay nave with aisles, and a three-bay chancel with a north vestry. An inscription above the tower entrance reads "STEEPLE REBUILT 1810," listing the churchwardens of that time. A reused 13th-century two-light window head is positioned above the west door. The tower has two-light bell openings under a battlemented parapet with angle spouts. The nave has two-light clerestory windows. The south aisle includes a 13th-century doorway on the left, with removed engaged columns, revealing stonework indicating a former porch recess. Restored segmental-headed two-light windows from the 19th century are also present. The north aisle features a blocked 13th-century doorway and restored 19th-century two-light windows. The chancel retains its original 12th-century narrow round-headed windows, with one 13th-century window inserted, and a 19th-century three-light east window. The 19th-century vestry incorporates reused medieval stonework in the tracery of its two-light window. Inside, a plain 12th-century round-headed arch defines the tower. The four-bay aisles are characterized by pointed arches on octagonal and round piers. A 17th-century open timber roof is also present. The aisles contain various 19th-century brass and white marble wall plaques. The lock on the 19th-century south door is inscribed and dated April 1671, indicating it was given by Anne, Countess of Pembroke. A 19th-century chancel arch is also present. A fragment of a zigzag arch stone, likely from the original chancel arch, rests on a window sill. The chancel includes a 12th-century piscina. Numerous 18th and 19th-century wall plaques commemorate members of the Hasell family of Dalemain; one, by Chantrey, depicts a mourning female figure beside an urn and is dated 1830. A red sandstone effigy of a knight, believed to be one of the Lords Dacre from nearby Dacre Castle, is also featured. A step to the vestry is formed from a reused medieval graveslab. Fragments of 9th and 10th-century carved cross shafts, believed to originate from a nearby monastery mentioned by Bede and excavated between 1982 and 1985, are also present. Stained glass from the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by Clayton and Bell, adorns the windows. A late-17th-century altar rail with twisted balusters completes the interior.