St Anthony's Church, Cartmel Fell

St Anthony’s Church stands on a hillside in the small village of Cartmel Fell in Cumbria. Built around 1504 as a chapel for Cartmel Priory, it has grown over centuries with additions like a south porch in the 16th century and a vestry in the 18th. The church is long and low, made of roughcast stone with slate roofs and a distinctive west tower topped with a saddleback roof. Its exterior includes three-light windows along the south wall and a five-light east window in the chancel. A Grade I listed building, it sits just southeast of Ravensbarrow Lodge. The church’s interior holds several notable features from different periods. Under the tower is a plain round font dated 1712, and three elaborate pews reflect its varied uses over time. The Cowmire Pew, possibly once part of a screen, has inscribed calculation aids suggesting it was used as a schoolroom. Nearby is a three-decker pulpit from 1698 and a three-sided communion rail from the 18th century. The east window contains stained glass from about 1520, depicting religious figures and scenes. Outside, the churchyard contains a rectangular stone block with steps, thought to be either a sundial base or a mounting block. The church’s Grade I status recognises its historical and architectural importance. Its quiet setting on the hillside and the mix of medieval and later features make it a place where history can still be seen and felt.