St Martin's Church, Bowness-on-Windermere

St Martin's Church is a Gothic building in Bowness-on-Windermere with slate rubble walls and sandstone accents topped by a prominent west tower with lead roofing. The structure features clerestory windows that flood the interior with light and emphasize the soaring proportions of the space.

The original church was founded in 1203 but was completely rebuilt in 1483 following a major fire. Architects Paley and Austin carried out extensive alterations in 1870 that shaped the building into its current form.

The church is named after Saint Martin, a figure whose veneration has shaped this community for centuries. You can see how it continues to serve as the spiritual heart of the town, drawing people for both regular worship and personal reflection.

The building is accessible on weekends for worship services and opens in the mornings on weekdays for private prayer. Visitors should note that access times are limited and it helps to check ahead about when you can enter.

In the churchyard rests Rasselas Belfield, a freed slave from Abyssinia who worked as a house servant in the community during the mid-1800s. This overlooked story reveals how the cemetery holds layers of local history beyond what most visitors initially notice.

Location: Windermere and Bowness

Inception: 1480

Architects: Sharpe, Paley and Austin

Architectural style: English Gothic architecture

Website: http://stmartin.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 54.36410,-2.92100

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:25