Church of St. John The Evangelist, Bassenthwaite.

BASSENTWAITE CHURCH, CUMBERLAND - The illustration shows the south-west view and plan of a new church about to be erected on the north-east side of Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumberland, and which will be carried out mainly at the expense of Mr. J. Boustead, Armathwaite Hall, near Cockermouth. The design was chosen in competition last autumn, a short notice appearing in these pages. The committee made their selection under the advice of a professional referee, Mr. Jas Fergusson, F.R.S. The walls externally will be of a hard quarry-faced freestone in narrow courses, the dressings, quoins, and tracery of a lighter coloured freestone from Blencow, near Penrith. Internally a rest portion of the walling will be faced with freestone and an occasional mixture of red Penrith stone. The flooring throughout the aisles and chancel will be in encaustic tiles. The roof will have a waggon or boarded ceiling of even height throughout, a cusped arch truss marking the division of nave and chancel. Sittings for about 255 persons. The architect is Mr. D. Brade, Kendal. [The Architect 21 February 1874 page 102]

THE accompanying illustration represents the church recently completed at the head of Bassenthwaite Lake. It is built externally of light grey  freestone and the dressings are of light freestone from Howrigg near  Carlisle. Internally the church has no plastering but is faced entirely with polished Howrigg freestone. All the woodwork of roofs, sittings, doors, etc., is in oak. The nave has a waggon-headed ceiling, and the chancel  roof is groined and vaulted in oak, with carved bosses and moulded ribs.  The work has been done mainly at the expense of Mr. J. Boustead, of  Armathwaite Hall, and a few other local gentry.  Messrs. Bolton & Scurr of Cockermouth, were the contractors for the masonry; Mr. Pollock, of Penrith, the joiners' work, and Mr. Tanner, of Kendal, for plumbing, glazing, heating, etc.; Mr. J. Lewis was the clerk of works. The total cost, including enclosure of burial grounds, lych gate, etc., was about £5,000. The architect is Mr. D. Brade, of Kendal.  [British Architect 27 December 1878 page 254]

Reference    The Architect 21 February 1874 page 102
Reference    British Architect 27 December 1878 page 254