Jesus Church, Troutbeck

Jesus Church is in the village of Troutbeck in the Lake District, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle. The church is situated on the A592 Windermere to Patterdale road and is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. Its benefice is united with that of St Martin's Church, Bowness-on-Windermere; St Anne's Church, Ings; St Cuthbert's Church, Kentmere; St James' Church, Staveley and St Mary's Church, Windermere.

History

There has been a church on this site from at least 1506 to serve the settlements in the Troutbeck Valley. The current church building was built in 1736, but retains many features from the earlier building.

Architecture

Exterior

Jesus Church is constructed in slate stone with freestone dressings and a slate roof. The tower, added in 1736, has three stages, clock faces on the west and south sides, and an embattled parapet with corner merlons. The five-light east window is Perpendicular in style, dating to 1873 and was designed by William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and Ford Madox Brown. There are 6 pointed windows in the south wall and 7 in the north wall along with a small three-light window in the tower.

Interior

The nave and chancel are under a single roof, with the large beams being from the original church building. There is a west gallery accessed from a steep staircase in the tower. Seating is provided in the way of mid 18th century wooden pews. At the west end of the nave is the font, consisting of a shallow octagonal bowl on a tall stem. The stone pulpit is polygonal, and is decorated with blind traceried panels. A small lean-to extension to the north elevation contains an accessible toilet and kitchen.