St Bridget's Church, Brigham

(See also Brigham)

St Bridgets church, a Grade I listed building, may have originally been part of a nunnery. The south arcade dates from 1180-90. The west tower is tunnel-vaulted and dates from the early 13^th century, as does the south doorway. The twin lancet bell openings are original. Pre-Norman carved stones are in the 14^th century south aisle chantry chapel. The font is 17^th century. The canopied tomb in the south aisle dates from c1337.

Two windows in the church date from the 15^th century, and another is in memory of William Wordsworths son John, who served as a vicar of the church for 40 years. Some of the windows were restored in 1864-76 by Butterfield. In addition he added the stenciling to the interior of the roof and the saddleback roof to the towers, dated 1220. A narrow, steep staircase leads to the top of the tower.

In the graveyard are hundreds of 17^th and 19^th century carved stones. A table tomb is that of Fletcher Christian of Mutiny on the Bounty fame. He was baptised in the church.

A local legend states that there once was a tunnel from St Bridgets church to the Wheatsheaf Inn. Another legend relates to the former hangman of Brigham, named Joseph Wilson. He committed suicide in 1757 by jumping from a bridge and was said to haunt the church afterwards. In 1860 his skull was dug up from the graveyard by the rector and taken to his former house. Apparently that was the end of the sightings of his ghost.

St Bridgets Church is located in the village of Brigham off the A66 west of Cockermouth.
The Revd Peter Benson
Phone: 01900 825317

Photo courtesy of Julian Thurgood

Back to Abbeys Monasteries and Churches

© 1997-2008 by The Cumbria Directory. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including images, and reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from The Cumbria Directory is prohibited.