St Lawrence's Church, Appleby

St Lawrence’s Church stands in Boroughgate, Appleby-in-Westmorland, a small town in Cumbria. Built of stone with lead roofs, the church has a nave, aisles, a chancel and a west tower. The tower’s base dates from about 1150, while the body of the church was rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries. Lady Anne Clifford restored the church in 1655, adding a north chapel and a new chancel. Flooding from the River Eden in December 2015 caused serious damage to the building. The church is recognised as a Grade I listed building and holds important monuments. Inside, the nave arcades are in five bays and the screens date from about 1500. The northeast chapel contains monuments to Lady Anne Clifford and her mother, Lady Margaret Clifford. A 14th-century female effigy also lies within the church. The two-manual pipe organ, built in 1661, was installed here in 1683 and stands at the west end. Visitors find a Decorated-style interior with stained glass by Heaton, Butler and Bayne, William Wailes and Wailes and Strang. The octagonal font is made of black Frosterley Marble, and a ring of six bells was cast in 1833. The church’s exterior shows Norman and Perpendicular features, including a 1699 clock in the tower. The surrounding town of Appleby-in-Westmorland offers a quiet setting for exploring this historic church.