The Three Seascale Churches

THE PARISH CHURCH

Until 1904 - Seascale, at first a hamlet and then a village, was part of the parish of Gosforth. In that year, under an order of the Privy Council, the separate religious parish of Seascale was created.

Although it had enjoyed rail communications since 1850, Seascale, then a tiny hamlet in the parish of Gosforth, developed slowly and it was not until 1869 that Church of England services were initiated here. The services were conducted by the Rector of Gosforth (Rev.J. A. Cheese) and held on Sunday afternoons in the railway station waiting room, then no more than a wooden shed. The congregation increased & for the period 1872 - 1874 this service was held in the railway goods shed, today the sports hall, with wagons and trucks for seats.

Thanks to Daniel, the son of John Tyson of Gosforth the builder, services were held in a barn belonging to the Scawfell Hotel until Easter 1874, by which time the Church School had been built, and for the next seven years the services were held there.
The school, in turn, became too small for the increasing congregations and, on the 11 July 1881, a corrugated iron building with seating for 300 was constructed at a cost of £450. The Iron Church was opened by Bishop Harvey Goodwin, of Carlisle, and the Rector of Gosforth appointed the first resident curate of Seascale.

This prefabricated church was damaged in the severe gales of the 16/17 October and the 11th.December 1883, when the church was partly un-roofed. It finally collapsed in the great storm of the 24th.January 1884. The church was rebuilt at a cost to the parishoners of £80 during 1884.

SEASCALE 1884 - The Iron Church Blown Down

The extreme violence of the storm on Saturday 24 January 1884, was experienced at Seascale, and in addition to the damage done to house property, the most deplorable accident was the complete destruction of the little iron church. The property of Mr.William Henry Tyson, Falcon House and the Ferns, suffered very much, the roofs being torn open and some of the windows smashed. Scawfell Hotel (Mr.John Tyson), also came to grief, part of a back roof and glass roof being broken. Property in the neighbourhood of the “Neb” suffered considerable damage, being one of the most exposed part of the village; and in some instances the repairs of damage done on the night of the 11th.December 1883 were disturbed.

The railway station at Seascale, and the other places along the coast, though exposed to the full blast of the storm, remained intact; but many telegraph posts were blown down and communication interrupted. Several gangs of men were immediately placed on different parts of the line, and the injury to the posts and wires repaired as soon as possible. A young woman received a rather serious shaking by being thrown on to the ground by the force of the wind on approaching Seascale Station.

The worst and the most regretted misfortune that befell that was the entire wreck of the Iron church. The wind was considered to have been much stronger on Saturday night than on the night of the 11th. ult., when only two or three sheets of the corrugated iron were torn from the roof. The destruction of the church was not seen by anyone; but up to midnight it was standing complete. It is supposed that the turret first fell, and that some time after the whole of the structure was demolished, beyond all hope of being restored to its former condition.

It was first observed in a ruined condition at 5 o’clock in the morning. The corrugated sheet iron was torn in pieces like as much paper, and it and the felting were to be found for a considerable distance away, scattered in fields and on the road. Luckily it was that the misfortune happened during the night time, as it would have been most dangerous had it occurred when the inhabitants of that locality were astir. Most of the woodwork of the building is completely destroyed; but what remains not damaged - which is very little - will be taken down and stored away until it is decided what course to take for the erection of another building.

Of course divine service on Sunday morning was out of question, there being no time to arrange for another place of worship. In the evening, however, service was held in the school-room, when the Rev.W.L.Taylor, curate, feelingly referred to the catastrophe.

On Monday evening a church committee meeting was convened by circular, and held in the school-room, to consider what steps ought to be taken. The chair was occupied by the Rev.J.Wordsworth of Gosforth rectory, and there was also present the Rev.W.L.Taylor, Dr.Parker, Captain Landsborough, and Messrs.J.Wrigley (secretary), Muncaster, John Sherwen jnr., Henry Leech, Isaac Mossop, Joseph Fearon, W.H.Tyson, R.Tyson, John Tyson, John Porter, etc.

A long conversation ensued, during which two schemes were mooted. A proposition was made by Mr.Wrigley, and seconded by Mr.Mossop, to build a brick structure of a temporary nature on the present site, and to apply for a 20 years’ lease of the ground to the owners, the Furness Railway Company. The other scheme was proposed by Mr.James Muncaster, and seconded by Mr.John Tyson, and was that a site be purchased, and that a permanent building be erected. The latter proposition found the most favour amongst those present, and on Monday evening next another meeting will be held, and the matter further gone into.

It is nearly three years since the iron church was erected by public subscriptions. The total cost was £500, and a good portion of that sum was subscribed by three parties, viz., £100 by the Duke of Devonshire; £50 by Sir James Ramsden; and £20 by the Duke of Buccleuch; and the inhabitants the most heartily subscribed. It was built to seat 300, and though adequate for the requirements of the place at that time, owing to the rapid rise of Seascale as a seaside resort, within a very short time it became patent that it was to small. In winter time the room had been found limited, and it was not uncommon in summer time, with a large influx of visitors, for many to be unable to gain admittance.

It is suggested that the next building erected should afforded sitting accommodation for 500; and even this space will, it is thought, be pretty well drawn upon by the inhabitants and visitors in the immediate future. In the meantime the usual services will be held in the schoolroom. The iron church was insured, but only against fire, consequently nothing will be recovered by the insurance.

It was obvious that a permanent church building must be provided and on 18th June, 1889, Lady Muncaster laid the foundation stone of the present church which was built on a site given by Mr.Henry Tyson, of Town end farm, and adjacent to the iron church which remained in use until the present church was completed. This Henry Tyson died on 12 December 1896 at Johannesburg in South Africa.

St.Cuthberts - The Parish Church

The church was built to the design of Mr.C.J. Ferguson of Carlisle in the decorated and perpendicular styles. St.Bees stone was used and the external walls were insulated by filling the cavities with pitch. The church consists of a chancel, nave, south aisle and a gable bell cote at the west end for two bells; it has 500 sittings which have always been free and unappropriated. The cost of the church and fittings was about £4,500 raised by public subscription.
The gypsum stone font and carved oak cover were given by children of the district; the carved oak communion table was given by the Misses Johnson of Sunny Bank; the original lectern, cross and carpeting were given by Mr. and Mrs. Whittle of Falcon House; the pulpit and chancel seats were given in memory of Mr. Daniel Tyson by his widow and children.

On 18th August, 1890, the church was consecrated as the Parish Church, with St. Cuthbert as its patron saint, by Bishop Harvey Goodwin. But St. Cuthbert’s was a chapel of ease to St. Mary’s Church, Gosforth, whose Rector appointed the Curate in Charge.

The Church Clock

The Rev.John William Akam, Vicar of Seascale 1920-1945, Frank Ridley Burnett and Isaac Wilson Turner did petition the Bishop of Carlisle for permission to erect a striking clock on the west wall of the Parish Church, and for placing on the clock case a bronze tablet bearing the inscription:

             “The clock was given by the people of Seascale to commemorate the Coronation of their Majesties King George the Sixth & Queen Elizabeth - May 1937”

THE METHODIST CHURCH - 1888

The first Methodist service held in Seascale was on Easter Sunday 1880 in Mr Whittington’s house, according to an old copy of ‘The Methodist Recorder: Following this one service each Sunday was held in the house in a room specially furnished by Mr.W. Walker and Mr . Hellon. But a Church building was desirable and was obviously the aim of these early Methodists. The Whitehaven News records that it was required “owing to the increasing popularity of Seascale as a place of summer resort and the consequent increase in the population.”

Finance was required and, as usual, the Lord provided it in the form of assistance from all the surrounding area. The site (cost £100) was donated by Mr Walker. Towards the £1500 - £1600 (according to the latest ‘Whitehaven News’ estimates) required for the Church building - £600 was obtained from subscriptions, £150 from central Methodist funds and about £200 from a special bazaar held at Seascale in the New Assembly Room adjoining the Scawfell Hotel.
The circuit minister, the Rev. C. Foster, said in his speech that :-
“Seascale was a rising place and had become very attractive as a watering place, and he thought it was necessary for something to be done about for the people who lived in it, and for those friends who might come from a distance for the sake of their health, who wished to worship in other than the Church of the Establishment”

The Foundation Stone was laid on 17th September, 1886, by John Crone, Esq., and the ceremony raised a further £200 towards the cost.
The reporter of The Whitehaven News gave details of the building itself - designed in the Gothic Style of architecture, 33 feet by 56 feet, built of freestone with brick lining and roof of ordinary blue slates. In the front were to be 3 windows, a large tracery one in the centre and one small lancet style window on each side, and eight lancet windows were to be placed on each side. Seating accommodation for about 210 was to be provided. A schoolroom to hold about 200 was to be constructed below the Church.

The architect was Mr Arthur Huddart, F.R.I.B.A. of Santon, & the contract to build was let to Mr Whittington, a Seascale builder. It is sad to think that this man in whose house the first Services were held found himself in financial difficulties and within a year of completing the Church building emigrated to Canada. A dedication service was held on Wednesday, 11th July 1888, at 4pm and the Rev.T.H.Mawson of Southport was the preacher.

Gas was installed in the building in 1896. The first mention in the records of electricity is in 1946. In 1911 there were complaints about the heating system and a new hot water system was installed in preference to gas radiators. Needless to say, this did not put an end to complaints about the heating system. One caretaker was so conscientious that on three occasions the fire bars were melted. On the third occasion the hot water found its way into the heart of the old ‘pumped’ organ and ruined it sufficiently to have it replaced by the present electric one. The heating system is now oil-fired.

Whilst on the subject of buildings, it is appropriate to mention the Manse. This was built in 1965 and enabled Seascale for the first time to have a married minister allotted to them with or without a family.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH - 1964

During the building of the atomic research establishment at Sellafield large camps were built at Nethertown and Sellafield for the accommodation of workers engaged thereon - and it soon became clear that a considerable proportion of these workers were Catholics. It was, therefore, seen to be desirable to have Catholic services nearer than Egremont and, in the Spring of 1950, Fr. Thomas Carey was appointed to the charge. He took up residence in the Nethertown camp where a building was specially prepared as a chapel. At Sellafield he arranged to say Mass in one of the huts which was specially set aside for use as a chapel. In Seascale Mr. Burnett offered the use of the gymnasium at the Boys Preparatory School for the same purpose, and it was gratefully accepted by Fr. Carey.

The construction Workers Camp at Sellafield was known as South Camp, consisting of a collection of war time style wooden Nissan huts situated between the then Site boundary and the railway sidings along side the main railway line. It also bordered onto the road between the railway station and the Main Gate.

The enlargement of Seascale to house people employed at Sellafield and their families and it was felt that something permanent in the way of a Catholic Church was needed. Early in 1952, with funds generously provided by the construction workers at the Nethertown and Sellafield camps as an act of appreciation and thanksgiving which they wished to leave behind them, Falcon House on the Neb was purchased - and, by means of a little re-construction, a chapel to accommodate about eighty people was provided in the house. Soon after he had moved into Falcon House Fr.Carey was succeeded by Fr.Francis Carter.

When plans were being prepared for the further development of the village in 1954 the County Planning Officer allocated an area with frontage on to Gosforth Road as a site for a Catholic church. On this site the dual purpose Church/hall was built and, in March, 1964 was opened as St. Joseph’s Catholic Church by Bishop Pearson, Auxiliary Bishop of Lancaster, and now also Bishop in Cumbria. The Parish Priest then was Fr.John Harrison, he having succeeded Fr.Carter in 1968, and, on its completion in 1961, he took up residence in the new presbytery. Falcon House was subsequently sold. Because of its duel purpose character the church does not possess any architectural features but reference must be made to the two very attractive stained glass windows which were designed and donated by Miss Helen Thornton, Art Mistress at Calder Girls’ School.

Most villagers will probably know that St. Joseph’s is in the diocese of Lancaster but the actual extent of the parish may be less generally known. The northern boundary is a straight line running due east from the coast to Calderbridge whence the boundary line follows the Bleng to its source and then goes on to include Pillar, Great Gable, Bow Fell and Crinkle Crags before turning in a more southerly direction to meet the Duddon at Wrynose Bottom, and to follow the course of that river to just downstream of Ulpha; from that point the southern boundary is a straight line running due west to reach the coast slightly north of Stub Place.