Built in the 12th century, St Mary’s Church is one of the oldest buildings in Kirkby Lonsdale, its Norman arches and stone walls quietly telling stories of nearly nine hundred years of faith and community. Later Gothic additions in the 14th and 15th centuries give the church its distinctive mix of architectural styles, each age leaving its mark.
Inside, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. A corner has been transformed into a small café area, while another area overflows with toys for children—a true community space. Chairs are stacked in corners and although it looks cluttered, it also tells a story of the role it plays as an important family village hub.
The church itself remains modest but full of character. Just beyond the entrance stands a large stone font, its surface smooth from centuries of use. It dates from the 14th century, originally from the chapel at Killington, before finding its home here in the 1800s.
Other treasures reveal themselves as we wander slowly through the nave: the stained glass windows on the east wall, installed in 1863, casting soft coloured light across the stone floor; the pulpit from the 17th century, and a beautifully carved 13th-century piscina, once used for washing sacred vessels. Banners hang gracefully from the arches, each one representing a sister church in the surrounding
When we step back outside, a light drizzle has begun to fall. Umbrellas up, we wander through the pretty shops that line Kirkby Lonsdale’s Main Street—bookshops, galleries, and gift stores filled with small treasures. After a comforting lunch in a cosy café, we can’t resist one last stop at the old-fashioned sweet shop, a place that always seems to belong to another time.
With bags of treats in hand and the sound of church bells faintly echoing across the valley, we head back to the car—content, refreshed, and quietly grateful for the simple beauty of the day.