A great day out in the Lake District, including two very different churches with something in common.
First we stopped off at Staveley near Kendal. St James church is in many respects an unremarkable Victorian building but it has a remarkable window. The beautiful east window, with its piercing blue glass, was designed by pre-Raphaelite Sir Edward Burne-Jones and made by Morris & Co. As we entered the church the window was the first thing we saw.
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Angel Musician
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We left Staveley, on the edge of the Lake District, and made our way to Troutbeck, further north. The weather was classic English summer and perfect for the scenic drive above Windermere.
Jesus church in Troutbeck is an older, 18th century, building but it also has an east window designed by Burne-Jones (and Ford Maddox Brown) and made by Morris & Co. Local tradition has it that William Morris and Ford Maddox Brown visited Troutbeck on a fishing holiday while Burne-Jones was working on the window and they stayed to help him.
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No piercing blue, but lots of greens and pastels
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View from the west gallery
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This must be one of the best views from a churchyard
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From Troutbeck, we climbed the Kirkstone Pass and dropped down to Brothers Water and then on to Ullswater further north.
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Looking back to Windermere from the Kirkstone Inn. The road snaking up from the lake is accurately called 'The Struggle'
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As we descended we caught a glimpse of the Kirk Stone just over the wall
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Brothers Water appears as we descend
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After driving along the shore of Ullswater we called into Verey Books at Pooley Bridge and then headed home. During the journey the heavens opened and we had a quite unpleasant drive through a torrential downpour!
