Cumbria is the third largest county in England, formed in 1974 from the historic counties of Cumberland and Westmorland. It is justly famous for the beauty of its landscape but spread throughout the county in its only city, Carlisle, and smaller towns and villages are many fascinating and historic churches, such as Grasmere and Hawkshead with their associations with William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. For much of its history Cumbria was the site of border raids between Scotland and England and its medieval churches often had a defensive role. Later churches from the Georgian and Victorian era illustrate the changing identity of the area as industry and manufacturing became established and tourism developed, particularly in the Lake District and along the coast. These later examples include the eighteenth-century St James’s, Whitehaven, and the nineteenth-century St Martin’s, Brampton.

In Churches of Cumbria, author David Paul explores a cross-section of historical churches throughout the county, both the well known and those waiting to be discovered by a wider audience. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Cumbria over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this splendid county in England.

'Each entry features colourful photographs and plentiful details of the artists and craftsmen who leave their mark by way of pulpits and organs, sculptures, windows and fonts. Details of churchyards feature from time to time, although the buildings themselves provide the core interest.' * Cumbria Life Magazine, December 2025 *

David Paul is a well-known local historian and author, who has written a number of books for Amberley on places in the North West and West Midlands and elsewhere. He lives in Widnes.