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History and Description of St. Anthony's

Leven Valley School visit

Peter and Cate Whitehead renew their Marriage Vows

Photos of the Roofing and Lighting project - autumn 2009

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St. Anthony's, Cartmel Fell

Welcome to St. Anthony’s church webpage….. We have a delightful little church here in Cartmel Fell which remains open for visitors everyday.

St Anthony’s Church nestles on the east side of Cartmel Fell, and a visitor’s first challenge is to find it!  It is about a mile south of the Mason’s Arms on Strawberry Bank, and there is a sign to the church just down the hill from the pub.  It is at OS map reference 416880 just below the parish hall, and stands in a lovely churchyard, resplendent with wild daffodils in the spring. 

The church was built in 1504 to save the scattered fellside community from having to walk 7 miles to Cartmel Priory, and was initially served by one of the monks.  Later it became a parish church in its own right, and the priest doubled as the schoolmaster, teaching in the church.

Now St Anthony’s is part of the Two Valleys group of parishes, sharing a priest-in-charge and other clergy within the group.  The small regular congregation of local people, and others drawn to St Anthony’s from further afield, is greatly swelled at major festivals, and for the rites of passage of parishioners.  It is also popular for weddings of people from elsewhere who can establish a connection with the parish.

It is also an ideal church for quiet contemplation and prayer, as appropriate under the dedication to St Anthony of Egypt, perhaps the first Christian hermit, and founder of monasticism. He also became the patron saint of swineherds and charcoal burners, which probably explains his choice as patron.  He is depicted in the east window, with his bell, staff and little pig, and his companion St. Leonard.

There is a service almost every Sunday morning at 9.30am and generally we follow the monthly pattern of services below:
1st Sunday   9.30am Matins (BCP)
2nd Sunday  9.30am Holy Communion (BCP)
3rd Sunday   9.30am Holy Communion (BCP)
4th Sunday   9.30am Holy Communion (BCP)
(When there is a fifth Sunday, the service rotates round the parishes in our team - so do check the Notices in the church porch before hand).

The East Window