Ireby Old Church

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Ireby Old Church

Ireby Old Church is a little, no longer used Anglican church in Cumbria, England. It stands about 1 mile west of the village of Ireby in a quiet, isolated spot. Only the chancel remains today. The building is Grade I listed and is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.

History
The church was built in the 12th century and was altered in 1845–46. It was restored in 1880 by Ewan Christian. In 1845–46 the nave, north aisle and porch were removed, and the font, piscina and some carvings were moved to a new village church.

Redundancy and care
The church was declared redundant on 11 June 1971 and came under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust on 7 November 1972.

Architecture
The church is built from sandstone and limestone blocks with a slate roof. Only the two-bay chancel remains, and there is an open bellcote at the west end. The door is in a blocked former chancel arch. A 19th-century surround sits over a reused 12th-century tympanum and a built-in medieval grave slab.

Walls and interior
The north wall has a blocked doorway and an 18th-century square window. The east wall has three small round-headed windows (one above) and built-in medieval slabs. Inside, the east wall features a restored three-bay arcade and a stone altar shelf with a carved medieval cross. The south wall contains two blocked 13th-century windows not visible from outside. Memorials include a wall plaque dated 1626 and a small shrine (aedicule) dated 1769.

Churchyard columns
In the churchyard are two 13th-century octagonal columns with capitals that once stood in the church nave. They were moved to the village as gateposts in 1845–46, bases were found in 1933–34, and after restoration in 1972 the columns were returned to the west of the church. They are Grade II* listed.