Colton Church

Holy Trinity Church Colton:
The parish of Colton lies in that part of Cumbria which was known as High Furness (now South Lakeland) and though it is not generally thought of as being part of the English Lake District, it is yet near enough to share some of its renowned beauty.

The name Colton - originally Coulton, like many other in this neighbourhood, is of Old Norse origin, and in that tongue KOL means peak, and TON a settlement, so the name could mean a farm or habitation on a hill. However, places often their owners name so Colton may mean the home of Kollis, a Norseman who is known to have lived in these parts - KOLLISTON.

Map and Gallery:

 Location Map

 The church is a typical old Lakeland edifice; plain, roughcast wall, square embattled tower and windows which are for the most part 16th century. Some parts of the church are late 15th century. It was probably built at the time of the reformation (1531 - 1539) on the site if a much earlier chapel. Frances Gastrell, Bishop of Chester (in which Diocese Colton lay until 1866) made the following return as to Colton when in 1704 (Queen Anne) all Bishops were presented to the queen. He says:-

"No papist families there, but one dissenting Meeting House (Tottlebank). The value of the living certified at £18.16.8 - viz £13.6.8 paid by the inhabitants but some of it ill-paid and there was formerly a mean, un-consecrated chapel there, under ye Abbey of Furness, till after the Dissolution it was enlarged in building and made parochial and consecrated by Archbishop Sandys (Archbishop of York) on 31st August 1578, the inhabitants - having purchased ye several tithes from the impropriator - have ever since named ye curate, there being no other patron who claims the right. The parish is divided into 4 parts, in each of which there is a churchwarden who collects ye minister's salary from house to house in every division. IT appears that a minister was elected by the inhabitants of 1694 and 1697 and ever since the patronage has rested with the landowners of certain estates in the parish."

 It was agreed during the reign of Henry II (1154 - 1189) the Furness Abbey should have Hawkshead, Satterthwaite and Colton. When early Norman lords had grants of perfectly wild country where the people were so rough it did not seem likely that they would pay them rent, the natural impulse was to give a good piece to the priests. Perhaps the most extensive of such owners were the monks of Furness who recieved from their founder, King Stephen (1135 - 1154) a very large fraction of Furness not in other recognised control.

 Evidence of how little was known about the district, is that the name Furness does not occur in the Domesday Book (1086) yet almost every village in Low Furness is mentioned; they are included under the general name of HOUGHIN with the name of the landowners and the quantity of arable land belonging to each of them, amongst whom were great Saxon Lords. Earl Tosig (brother of King Harold Godwinsson) held lands in Furness.

 Charcoal and its use for the purpose of iron-making, is first mentioned in the Furness Abbey Coucher. Several entries in parish registers relate to colliers.

 In a note to Bishop Gastrell, a certain Canon Baines styles Colton Church as "one of Henry VIII's vicarages" and that the church existed in the year 1530 is evident from the mention in an "Information given by one William Tunstall against Alexandre, Abbot of Furness, for having desayed the Kings Grace of the last subsidy granted to His Grace by act of Parliament - 1530-1 - the sum of £250" also "in taking a subsidy or tax of certain of his poor tenants dwelling nye Colton Chapelle in Furness, gedyrd by 2 of his tenants, they being constables of that place, the one of them named George Dogeson and the other Robert Skabe, dwelling at Thwaite moss, Summa £3.2.3." The abbot denied these charges and it does not appear that any proceedings were taken. Its chief interest it that it proves the existence of a Pre-Reformation Chapel at Colton.

 We find a comment on this Abbot in the Annales Furnessiensis, which says "It would appear from information given by Tunstall, as well as other circumstances, that Abbot Alexander was 'a right slender husband to his house'"

 When the church was built on the hill, it was probably the centre of population between the two villages of Bouth and Oxen Park and stood above a busy road through Rusland Valley along which went trains of packhorses. But Bouth increased in importance and wagons and packhorses passed through it as the old coach road from Kandal to Dalton and Cumberland made a diversion to go through it, and so the church grew neglected and Bouth increased. At one time, a weekly market was held there and two fairs were held annually, one at Easter and one in October. The wrestling matches there were famous.

 In Pre-Reformation days, we know that all the land around Colton belonged to the Abbey of Furness and it is to the monks connected with that religious house that we must look for the spread of the gospel from this particular place.

For purposes of civil administration, the present parishes of Hawkshead and Colton were under the jurisdiction of a bailiff and devided into baliwicks. These were Colton, Finsthwaite, Claife, Hawkshead and Brathy. Later, when Hawkshead and Colton became separate parishes, each was divided into four townships. These sub-divisions were made for the organising of parochial business and replaces the Pre-Reformation baliwicks, which are the only divisions we find at an earlier date.

Monks were divided into (1) choral or monks strictly so termed and (2) territorial - converts and lay brethren. The latter were dispersed among 'granges'. These were spacious buildings; hall, chapel and other accommodation for people attached to them. These monks were called CONVERSI GRANGIARII and were under the superintendence of one of the brethren as a bailiff. Since the reign of Edward I, either Hugh Skiller 1297 or Johanne de Cockenham 1303, who owned the bailiwick of Colton, enclosed by Royal Licence Abbot, Stott, Oxen and Hill Parks, all within the area of Colton. These parks were where the monks kept their cattle, under a band of herdsmen.

 After the suppression of the religious houses, the lands of the baliwick of Colton fell to the Duchy of Lancaster, and were held by "Queen Elizabeth I by customary land and bloom-smithy or wood rents; the latter were reserved to the Crown and charged by the tenants upon themselves for payment."

 Colton church was rebuilt on a more extensive scale some twenty five years after its consecration by Archbishop Sandys. In the history of the Rawlinsons of Greenhead (now a farm below Colton Church) it is recorded that "William Rawlinson Esq., rebuilt the Parochial Chapell at Colton upon the Common belonging to his family, before 1603", which was the year of his death. This William Rawlinson married the daughter of William Pennington of Colton.

 Being under Hawkshead was not satisfactory to the people of Colton who objected to the obligation it laid on them to contribute to the expenses of Hawkshead, as the Mother Church. Ultimately, in 1676, Colton succeeded in establishing its independence and became free of Hawkshead as an entirely different parish, nearly ninety years aster the death of Archbishop Sandys. That Colton still used Hawkshead for burials is recorded by Bishop Gastrell in his notes, Nototia Centriensis, upon Hawkshead Church when he says, "Colton buty their dead at this church but have contributed nothing for forty years past to its repairs - certified A.D. 1722." Yet there is a manuscript copy of a will of Edmund Kellet of Bowthe in 1587, directing that his body be buried in "ye parish church of Colton". The will was witnessed among others by Edward Rawlinson of COW BE REY, probably what we know as Cowridding.

 In 1710 and the two following years, Colton Church underwent a restoration which cost £45.10.9. In 1721, a transept was built on the north side, but the erection of this caused much ill-feeling on the part of some of the parishioners and attempts were made to prevent it by forceful interference but these proved futile and the persons concerned were committed to Lancaster Gaol.

 In the dismantling of the church in the 1890 restoration, the bowl of an old 15th century font was discovered. It had been placed in an inverted position beneath the floor in such a way as to serve as a base for the one which stood in a pen near the pulpit and which bore the date 1718 and the initials of the churchwardens of the time, JP, JR, CI, and FC. This 18th century font is now in Canada. The old font is octagonal and hewn from one block of sandstone and is now in use, standing at the south west door of the church. It is of interest to observe on this old font where arrows and knives were sharpened on its sides.

 In speaking of the font, it is also interesting to remember that a little way down the old hill path from the church, is a well, no less ancient than the church, probably more so. This well is supplied by a spring of excellent and never-failing water which was used for the sacrament of Baptism and other church purposes. The well is circular in shape, called the Holy Well or St. Cuthbert's Well and was used by the monks of Furness Abbey who used Colton. It is lined with sandstone, presumably that of which Furness Abbey was built. Doubtless, during past centuries, many wayfarers wearied by a long walk from a distant part of the parish to attend Devine Service, have found refreshment at this well and blessed the consideration of those who built it.

 One of the treasures of Colton Church is a very ancient bell, hanging in the tower. It is of Pre-Reformation date, probably 14th century, certainly before A.D 1420 when Lombardic characters were superseded by Black Letter.

The bell bears the inscription - CAMPANA, BEATI JOHANNES APPLI - the Bell of St. John the Apostle, in Lombardic letters, preceded by a cross patonce - that is expanding in curves from the centre with floriated ends. The bell is thought to have been founded by John de Kirkham of York who flourished towards the end of the 14th century. The stop on the inscription resembles three horns, unlike any other known bell. Round the cross and the letters is a fine line and the spaces filled up with a three-leaved diaper pattern in low relief.

 The bell probably came from Conishead Priory, which was formerly a hospital belonging to the order of St. John of Jerusalem. At the dissolution of the priory, the goods and chattels, lead, bells and timber were sold for £333.6.31/2 and as William Sandys, the father of Archbishop Sandys who consecrated Colton Church, was Receiver General of the Liberties of Furness and his son, William, who lived at Colton Hall (now Old Hall, Bouth) until he removed to the priory in 1448/9 - was bailiff of the same, it seems probably that he would use his influence in favour of this bell being sent to Colton Church, either by purchase or gift.

At one time instructions as to the ringing of the bell were given. To be rung by Sexton at 10.15 am for 15 minutes, as first bell, each stroke of the rope to cause the clapper to strike 3 times, and at 10.25, for 5 minutes as second bell, each stroke this time to strike once. The note of the bell is E. Originally, the bell hung in a ringing chamber in the Tower open to the church by a small pointed arch in the south end of the west wall to the north of which was a staircase, leading to the west gallery, demolished in 1890.

 There is a strange story told of the bell's rediscovery. It would appear that the bell hung in the tower for a very long time without any especial interest being attached to it. In 1887, preparations were being made in Colton, as throughout the country, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It was decided that a flag must be flown from the church tower. To the amazement of the man who climbed to fix it, he discovered an ancient, forgotten bell. Great was his delight to be able add such an unexpected, historic note to the joy of the occasion.

 In 1890, at a cost of £900, a thorough restoration of the church took place when the floor was levelled, the west gallery removed, the north wall of the transept rebuilt and a window, the gift of Mr and Mrs Burns, then of Springfield, was put in. The tower arch and gallery stairs were removed and a new door made on the south side. The present east window was installed, a gift from Mrs Christopherson, and the transept window was given by Miss Burns and Mr Burns, the latter also gave the Eagle Lecturn. The old three-decker pulpit was removed and the present pulpit put in its place. It is hard to forgive the restorers for taking down the old three-decker pulpit. It was very high - high enough to enable the parson to keep an eye on the congregation in the gallery!.

 The roof was repaired but all the old windows were left in their original positions except the one window lighting the gallery, which was blocked up. The church windows are all square-headed, without hood moulds and of two or three lights with trefoiled heads.

One of the curiosities of the church is the old pitch pipe, the payment for which in in the parish accounts. This was used in the old days to give the note when the music was not provided by the organ, but was sometimes unaccompanied and at other times led by fiddlers.

 There is a silver chalice in the church, the lid of which forms the paten, bearing the date 1571. This Elizabethan is known as the COULTON TREASURE and is used on special occasions. It was presented by Archbishop Edwin Sandys when he consecrated the church on August 31st 1578.

There are two war memorials in the church; a window in the south wall of the nave which commemorates the men of the parish who gave their lives in the 1914 - 1918 war, whose names are inscribed below. On the west wall, a board superimposed by a copper cross, gives the names of those lost in the 1939 - 1945 war.

 The conduct of parochial affairs rested in the hands of the Minister, four Churchwardens, the sidesman (synodsmen), the Overseers of the poor, the Overseers of the highways and the Parish Clerk. The word sidesman is thought to be a corruption of synodsman, because these officials had the power of presenting any offender against religion at the Episcopal Synod. They were a sort of committee appointed by the vestry for the management of parochial affairs. They had to help the churchwardens generally and advise them in all matters relating to the well-being of the parish. They presented parish officers who neglected their duties and fined them for non-attendance at meetings, held on St. Stephen's Day and the Tuesday in Easter week. Charities and endowments passed through their hands and; put in a nutshell, they constituted a kind of parochial church council of those days. Through the hands of the overseers of the poor went the charitable bequests. They provided relief for the poor in the shape of clogs, clothing and sometimes meat. Old and destitute females were sometimes given spinning wheels to help them earn their own living.

 Church wardens were elected annually at Easter, and most of the estates men came sooner or later for a term of office. Probably before the division of Colton and Hawkshead, Colton had its own chaplewarden and churchwardens appointed for the less distant parts of the parish.

The earliest surviving Colton Churchwardens account was made by Alexander Readhead at Nibthwaite in 1626. His expenses were as follows :-
For bread and wine at Whitsuntide 2s. 0d.
For the like at Christ's tide 2s. 0d.
At the correction att Cartmell 2s. 0d.
To the poore 3s. 6d.
For half a burial at Hawkshead 1s. 3d.

Summa 10s, 9d.

The churchwardens certainly had a greater variety of duties in those days. We read that the churchwardens were also responsible for mending the clock, seeing to the tower, mossing the lead to keep out the damp, ringing the bells at festivals, paying for the destruction of foxes and ravens, whipping dogs out of the church, leathering the bell-tongues, cleaning the church plate and in 1683, we learn that Churchwardens were asked to fine parishioners for non-attendance at church.

 There is a ancient horsing-stone outside the church dating from 1767, which cost 12/- to build. In the old days, many parishioners must have come to church on horse-back. The horses were tethered to the railings during the services and we are told that worshipers brought food with them which they ate either outside in the sunshine or across the way in the village school (now the church hall) which dates from 1745. They then attended vespers in the church in the early afternoon, before remounting to ride home to their outlying farms and houses.

 In the churchyard visible from the south west door, stands an old sundial inscribed with the date 1674. This was lost for some time as it was broken into three pieces, one of which was found buried in the churchyard, another found under the tower and a third in the ditch at the bottom of the hill. The rev Arthur Anderson Williams, the then vicar of Colton, re-assembled the broken parts and the sundial now graces Colton churchyard, serving its original purpose.