St Mary, Wreay | Carlisle | England | United Kingdom

St Mary, Wreay

Sightseeing attraction | Carlisle | England | United Kingdom

19th century individual architecture

St. Mary's Church in Wreay, near Carlisle in England, is a remarkable example of individual architecture from the 19th century. The church was designed and built between 1840 and 1842 by Sara Losh, a local landowner and self-taught architect. It is considered an early example of the revival of Lombard architecture in Britain.

Revival of Lombard architecture

The inspiration for the design of St. Mary's came from Losh's travels through Europe, particularly from early Christian basilicas and the Lombard architecture of Italy. The church has a rectangular shape with a semicircular apse choir, reminiscent of the structure of a Roman basilica. This choice was unusual for its time as the prevailing architectural style for churches in 19th century England was the Gothic Revival style.

Religious symbolism in churches

Particularly noteworthy are the rich symbolic decorations of the church. Sara Losh incorporated numerous carvings of plants, animals, insects, and fossils, representing both Christian and pagan symbols. These ornaments explore concepts such as death, rebirth, and eternity. A recurring motif is the pine cone, symbolizing immortality.

Artistic design by Sara Losh

The construction was carried out by local craftsmen under the direction of the stonemason William Hindson and his sons. Losh placed great importance on using local materials and involving the community in the project. The church replaced an earlier 14th century chapel that had become dilapidated.

Historical churches in England

In the churchyard stands a mausoleum, erected by Sara Losh in 1850 in memory of her sister Katharine. The mausoleum contains a life-sized marble statue of Katharine, created by local sculptor David Dunbar. Additionally, there is a replica of the Anglo-Saxon Bewcastle Cross, also designed by Losh.
St Mary, Wreay Carlisle

Contact details

Web

Phone

Address
Wreay
CA4 0SA Carlisle

Map view

Opening hours

Sunday10:00 - 16:00
Monday10:00 - 16:00
Tuesday10:00 - 16:00
Wednesday10:00 - 16:00
Thursday10:00 - 16:00
Friday10:00 - 16:00
Saturday10:00 - 16:00

Reviews

39 Reviews

Alan North
09.07.2024

This village church is truly unique and one of the top ten worth visiting.
Maxine Blaylock
15.06.2024

A lovely little place to visit with an amazing church.
kevin mills
06.05.2024

For church lovers, this is a must-visit site. Designed by Sara Losh in 1842, it showcases the earliest revival of Lombard architecture in Britain. There are so many wonderful things to see that a second visit is necessary. Parking is available on a quiet road and the church is typically open during daylight hours.
Chris Delaney
17.06.2023

This hidden gem is best kept a secret!
Chris Smith
13.05.2023

This small church is packed with interesting sights. Take a first walk around, grab a guide, and explore it again. Even non-Christians can enjoy the visit. Donations are welcomed, including by card, and there is plenty of street parking available.
Sharon Arrowsmith
11.03.2023

The creativity and symbolism of Sarah Losh were truly amazing to witness.
Andy Coops
26.09.2022

Although it was closed when we visited, the church looked impressive from the outside. Interestingly, one of our ancestors helped build it as a local stonemason.
anthony bowers
18.06.2022

A wonderful find that is definitely worth visiting, including the museum.
Klara Chadwick
12.01.2022

This church is unparalleled in beauty from an artisan perspective. It truly is a wonderful little place.
john clark
17.08.2021

Simply intriguing.
Clive Hicks
08.06.2021

A wonderful experience at this beautifully maintained church, which also serves as a worshipping community. The sense of welcome is excellent, even when visiting alone.
Chris Brumwell
08.04.2021

A nice church without a graveyard.
Stephen Maughan
25.10.2020

A beautiful church in the Roman style.
Kat V
21.10.2020

Absolutely loved it!
Chas Dundas
18.09.2020

It looked nice from the outside, but it was disappointing that it was not open.
Derek McCallan
21.07.2020

This church has a quirky and delightful history and architecture, despite being close to the M6.
Annabel Lawrence
28.06.2020

The church features beautiful windows.
Gary Anson
24.11.2019

Slightly off the beaten track, but this lovely little church is worth a visit if you're in the area. There isn't much else to see nearby.
John Hislop
09.11.2019

This church is definitely worth a visit for its peaceful and calming atmosphere.
Carole Donaldson
13.10.2019

The church is truly beautiful and offers inspiring worship.
David Brown
08.09.2019

St Mary's Church, Wreay is among the top 10 churches to visit in England. The pictures don't do it justice, and I am looking forward to revisiting and spending more time in this sacred space.
Phil Sawyer
04.08.2019

The church is beautiful and has a fantastic history.
Paul Kohn
29.05.2019

This church is beautiful, unique, and unspoiled. Read 'The Pine Cone' by Jenny Uglow to learn more.
Lindy Wilson
13.05.2019

After reading about this church in Simon Jenkins' 'England's 1000 Best Churches' and learning it had a 4-star rating, I found it even better than expected. The atmosphere focused on nature and was incredibly peaceful. Everyone should visit this church.
John Bland
12.05.2019

Absolutely fantastic, showcasing the talent of a truly skilled woman architect.
Julia Hartley
07.05.2019

This lovely church is adorned with jaw-droppingly beautiful trees. There is much to learn about Sarah Losh, the architect designer behind this wonderful place.
Martin Bentley
13.04.2019

A very unusual and pretty church.
Howie Shploink
13.12.2018

An incredibly thought-provoking building.
Gordon Thomason
09.12.2018

Truly unique and well worth a visit.
Robert Freeman
09.12.2017

An astonishingly beautiful and unique church.

 

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