History
There have been many churches on the present site of St Peter’s Church in Castle Carrock but the present one dates back to 1828 and restored in 1888 stands on the site of an earlier church on the mediaeval site.
Registers start in 1679 and the church and churchyard record much of the story of the outstanding families of Castle Carrock and the surrounding communities. One of the interesting features within the church is the grave-slab of John de Begho Kirk, a Rector who died in 1346. Today, St Peters Church is part of the Eden, Gelt and Irthing Team Ministry which was established in 2002.
The church is open during daylight hours seven days a week in the summer and at weekends only in the winter
Services
2nd and 4th Sundays: 9.30 am Holy Communion.
Morning prayer every Friday at 9.00am.
Please refer to the Parish News or notices in the church for full list of services or special events.
Restoration
In 2018 the church underwent a significant programme of repair and restoration. Thanks to the generous support of the village and wider community, we were able at last to address the damp problem which was threatening the fabric of the building.
Restoration work began in 2015, when we improved drainage and guttering to take the rain water away from the walls. The next step was to tackle the damp coming in at ground level which had caused the timber platforms supporting the pews to rot. In 2018 we removed all the pews and took up the floor. The timbers and joists beneath were found to be too damaged to repair. The cavity under the floor and the blocked ventilation shafts were cleared, and new ducts were installed, to bring air from the outside under the floor, through passages in the concrete aisle and out to the other side. New joists were put in before the repaired pew platforms and the pews were replaced. One pew at the front and two at the back were not replaced, leaving us room for buggies and wheelchairs. In 2019 the interior was repainted.
We are very grateful for the support from the community and diocese which enabled this work to take place. Of course there will always be work to do on a building of this age, so we will continue fundraising. Our main events are the Autumn Show, and the running of the Magnificent Tea Emporium and Mom’s Kitchen at Music on the Marr. We are grateful to the festival for this opportunity which has raised vital funds over the years.
Contact
Rev. Edward Johnsen, Hayton Vicarage, 01228 670248
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Church Wardens:
Lin Kendall 01228 670447 or
Helen Eichler 01228 670085 or
Safeguarding officer:
Laurence Forrester 01228 670728
More on safeguarding here:
https://www.carlislediocese.org.uk/our-diocese/safeguarding.html