St Andrew's Church, Penrith

St Andrew’s Church stands in the centre of Penrith, a town in Cumbria. It is an active Anglican parish church with a Grade I listing, the highest recognition for historic buildings. The church unites several local parishes under one benefice. In the past it had two chapels of ease, one in Castletown and another at Bowscar. The tower is the oldest part, built in the 12th and 13th centuries with later additions. The church is worth visiting for its layered history and fine craftsmanship. The nave and west doorway were rebuilt in the 18th century under vicar Hugh Todd. The rebuilding was likely designed by William Etty of York. Inside, paintings by Jacob Thompson from 1845 depict biblical scenes. Brass chandeliers were donated in 1746 by the 2nd Duke of Portland after the town’s role in the 1745 Jacobite rising. Visitors find a Georgian-style building with an eight-bay nave and two-bay chancel. The exterior shows red sandstone ashlar with round-arched windows and pilasters. Inside are three galleries on north, west and south sides carried on Tuscan columns. The east window holds stained glass by Hardman from 1870, while the north aisle glass is by Burlison and Grylls from 1889. The churchyard contains two 10th-century Anglo-Saxon monuments known as the Giant’s Grave and the Giant’s Thumb.