The church was first recorded in the Lanercost Cartulary 1169,
when Robert de Vaux granted the church to the Priory at Lanercost.

The line drawing was made by a monk in the margin. Thomas a Becket was murdered in 1170 and canonised in 1173, the church was dedication to him shortly after this.


The church is in the ancient manor of Farlam in the Barony of Gilsland. It is in the hamlet of Kirkhouse once known as Magna Farlam or East Farlam whilst the other major settlement of the time was Pava Farlam, that it is now called Farlam. It was the growth of mining at the end of the 17th century that increased the population and villages along the fell side.


The paintings below were of the old church that was demolished in 1860 to make way for the new one on the hill. The population had grown and a new more fitting church was required. Built by public subscription to an Anthony Salvin design, it was consecrated by the Bishop of Carlisle on Tuesday 27th November 1860.

This Royal crest painted on wood hangs above the church door.

It originally hung in the old church as it is dedicated to King George.

Although there is no indication of which King George it was dedicated to.

The Hanoverian crest was used in this form from 1714 until 1816 covering George 1st, 2nd and 3rd. the absence of a numeral suggests George the first.

The church seen today was built with funds raised by subscription.

A total of over £1700 was raised.

The foundation stone laid on 8 July 1859 by the Earl of Carlisle.

The design was supplied by Anthony Salvin in the early English style.

Charles Howard M.P. gave £500 whilst Mrs Thompson of Farlam Hall donated £200.

Other notable donations were from Robert Stephenson M.P. of Rocket fame, the employees of the Thompson mines and those from Tindales Spelter works.

Mr Ramshay, Esq. of Narworth Castle donated the church bells a a cost of £36 18 6.

From the Carlisle Journal is a copy of the text placed in a bottle next to the foundation stone by the Earl of Carlisle.

In November 1860 the new church was consecrated by the Bishop of Carlisle.

The chancel floor was laid with encaustic tiles from Maw and Co, the height of fashion.

The pulpit, communion table and reading desk were of oak.

Seating was believed to be 400.

A list was compiled of all the people who made donations to the building.

One notable donor was Robert Stephenson M.P. of Rocket fame.

If you wish to donate to day please press the button below

The church has a lovely selection of windows .

Some where installed when the church was built and others added later.

Ian Lees a volunteer photo-archivist at Scotland's Churches Trust

specializing in stained glass has taken photographs of our windows.

He has kindly shared them with us and here are a few.

All stained glass photographs are the property of Ian S. Lees,

reproduced here by his kind permission.

The church has a lovely selection of windows .

Some where installed when the church was built and others added later.

Ian Lees a volunteer photo-archivist at Scotland's Churches Trust

specializing in stained glass has taken photographs of our windows.

He has kindly shared them with us and here are a few.

All stained glass photographs are the property of Ian S. Lees,

reproduced here by his kind permission.

The church has a lovely selection of windows .

Some where installed when the church was built and others added later.

Ian Lees a volunteer photo-archivist at Scotland's Churches Trust

specializing in stained glass has taken photographs of our windows.

He has kindly shared them with us and here are a few.

All stained glass photographs are the property of Ian S. Lees
reproduced here by his kind permission.

The church has a lovely selection of windows .

Some where installed when the church was built and others added later.

Ian Lees a volunteer photo-archivist at Scotland's Churches Trust

specializing in stained glass has taken photographs of our windows.

He has kindly shared them with us and here are a few.

All stained glass photographs are the property of Ian S. Lees,

reproduced here by his kind permission.

The church has a lovely selection of windows .

Some where installed when the church was built and others added later.

Some windows are being updated with new memorial glass.

New memorial window for Jean Fordy installed April 2023

Photo reproduced here with kind permission of A Freer



Nave South Wall

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee window.

Memorial window - Fidelity and Charity To Thomas Charles Thompson


All stained glass photographs are the property of Ian S. Lees,

reproduced here by his kind permission.

1914 – 1918

William Andrew Barnes
Isaac Graham
Oliver Bell
Joseph Graham
James Brough
Samuel Russell Irving.
Andrew Charters
Harold Little
Marshall Elliot
John Park
Thomas Elliot
Robert Tailford
George Errington
George Telford
William Errington
William Graham
Joseph Fairlam
William Bell Teasdale.
James Forrest
William Waugh


1939 – 1945

William Stobbart
John James Johnstone

Francis Andrew Ruddick
Benjamin Thompson

Hugh Henry Stalker,

Joseph Bell Chief Engineer on the RMS Titanic

The head stone of Joseph Bells family has an inscription in memory of him all the engineers who died when the Titanic sunk on 15th April 1912.

This is in the old church yard.

A wreath is laid on this date each year. More information about Joseph can be found on his web site from the links page.

Rev T Smith

Reverend Blatchford 1943

And a list of former vicars for the parish.

The restoration is ongoing.

Our next Big Projects are

a) trying to address the parking problem at church

b) hoping to install a Chancel Screen, to create a separate chapel

Both of which will be very costly,

so donations will be welcome

(and needed)!

If you want to donate please press the button and go to our Just Giving page.

Edward Dean has repaired the hinge and re-hung the lower gate into the churchyard which the Joseph Bell Memorial Fund had cleaned and repainted.

Back in February 2023, local lad Roger Forster happily gave up a couple of nights and part of his week-end to measure up and build a new roof structure on the coffin house at Farlam Church. The coffin house has not been used for many years and had fallen into a state of disrepair.

As luck would have it the Community Payback team who help maintain the churchyard were supervised by a former builder and two of the team happened to be roofers. Lynne the Church treasurer asked Roger if he could repair the rotting timbers. Once the new framework was in place the Community Pay- back team led by Tommy Mattinson added the membrane, the lead flashing and replaced the slates.

A new carpet was laid in the whole church in January 2022.

It has brightened up the space and sets off the tiles in the sanctuary.

The vestry outside door has finally been installed.

New wood has replaced the old and the original fixings all reused.

It will now keep the drafts out.

The door has the date 1860 over it so hopefully this door will last as long as the last one did.

The church bells have been repaired and rehung.

They were rededicated at the Harvest Festival service and rung for the first time by two members of the congregation.

The bellcote has been rebuilt and the roofers are busy putting the slates back on the roof.

The original slates are being reused but the hand made nails are replaced with copper ones.

Following two years of dedicated work by the Restoration Group, work is well underway to restore the main Church Roof and Bellcote.

The Project is being led by Architect Ian Wells of Countryside Consultants in Alston who is working closely with the Contractor Stephen Gebbels from Hexham.

The two bells have been removed from the Bellcote and will be restored by Ron East, the Carlisle Diocesan Bell Advisor. The Bellcote itself will be completely dismantled and rebuilt using new stone where necessary to enable the restored bells to be re-hung.

Bell 1 was cast by John Warner and Sons of Cripplegate, London in 1858 and Bell 2 in 1859. Bell 1 is 18 inches in diameter and weighs 1 cwt and 1 qtr. Bell 2 has a diameter of 19 inches and weighs 1 cwt 2 qtrs. For the benefit of our younger readers Bell 1 weighs 63.5 kilos while Bell 2 weighs 76.2 kilos.

The bells were donated by Mr. Ramshay of Narworth Castle and cost £38.18s.6d.

The main Church Roof is also being replaced as part of the £68,789 scheme. The project received £53,806 in grant funding from the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund, which the Restoration Group secured last year. Competition for this funding was extremely keen and the Church was very fortunate to be awarded it. The Farlam Trust also made a generous contribution to the works which helped the larger grant to be secured.

The repairs are scheduled to finish in mId-September. In the meantime Church Services are continuing as usual. Further fund raising will be a major part of the Restoration Group’s activities for some time as there are a number of smaller, lower level roofs to repair along with several essential internal projects that need dealing with.

Lynne McKenzie

Thank you to the generous personal donation of £600 towards the restoration costs. A wonderful start to the new year

Anyone wishing to contribute please contact Rev Edward Johnsen either with financial assistance or helping with the project.

The restoration group are delighted to announce that the recent application to the Roof repair fund through the government supported listed places of worship fund has been successful. The church will receive £41, 000 plus vat to cover essential work to the bellcote and nave roof.

The Church has been standing at the top of the hill for over 160 years, battered by the Cumbrian weather. It has taken its toll on the roof and windows.

A committee has been formed to raise money to make the necessary repairs. The work needed is considerable £85000.

This funding does not cover windows, some repointing, refurbishing the boiler house, a new vestry door, lightening conductor and other maintenance to the interior of the building.

A new carpet is needed in the church to cover the floor where the pews were removed. This will allow the church to host events with a large floor space.

If you would like to use the church for an event please contact the vicar or church wardens.

Farlam Parish Trust supported by Thompson Quarries, have agreed to donate £4000 towards the Bellcote and roof repairs.

The Church has been gifted £1000 this Christmas from the Ecclesiastical Insurance Company

The church is grateful to the parish trust for a grant of £1000 towards the cost of these first basic repairs to the Bells.

This will enable the project to apply for other grants as match funding.

The second round of roof repair funds can now be applied for. The restoration group has applying. After attending a support day the application will be revised and reduced to hopefully stand a better chance of success.

The bells were gifted in 1860 and made by Warner of London.

Pews all sold

Sale of these will go towards the new carpet.

£1000 has been awarded by Farlam Village Trust.

We are hoping to fund the repairs to the bells and surrounding masonry from fund raising and grants.

If you would like to make a donation to the restoration fund please get in contact with the vicar, Church Wardens or Jacqueline on 016977 42662, Church Treasurer.


Legacy

If you would be interested in leaving a gift in your will to the church, please talk to the Vicar. More information can be found on the church of England website.

This is the list of original donors for building the church in 1860. Amongst the notable gentry from the area was the late Robert Stephenson Esquire, MP of London.

This obituary appeared in the Carlisle Journal in 1848 to George Stephenson. It illustrates the close connection the family had with the area and the donation made by his son.

If you wish to donate you can also press the Donate to Farlam Church button