St Peter's Church, Sawrey

The church was completed in 1869, to a design by a London-based architect, Robert Brass.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawksheadbenefice.co.uk/sawrey|title=Hawkshead Benefice: St Peter's, Sawrey|access-date=20 October 2024}} It is the only church designed by Brass, who shortly afterwards ceased practice as an architect.{{Cite web|url=https://manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk/architects/robert-brass|title=Architects of Greater Manchester: Robert Brass|access-date=20 October 2024}}

It is built from local slate and sandstone, in an Early English style with chancel, transepts and a three-stage tower at the north-east.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawksheadbenefice.co.uk/sawrey|title=Hawkshead Benefice: St Peter's, Sawrey|access-date=20 October 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1407317?section=official-list-entry|title=Historic England List Entry 1407317|access-date=22 October 2024}}

The stained-glass windows are by the following firms:

• East window by Cox & Son depicting Christ the Good Shepherd.{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1407317?section=official-list-entry|title=Historic England List Entry 1407317|access-date=22 October 2024}}
• Transept end windows by R.B. Edmundson & Son.{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1407317?section=official-list-entry|title=Historic England List Entry 1407317|access-date=22 October 2024}}
• West window in the north transept by Wailes and Strang.{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1407317?section=official-list-entry|title=Historic England List Entry 1407317|access-date=22 October 2024}}
• South wall of nave depicting St Miriam playing the timbrel and St Cecilia playing the organ.{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1407317?section=official-list-entry|title=Historic England List Entry 1407317|access-date=22 October 2024}}

The organ is by Gray & Davison, dating from 1875.{{Cite web|url=https://npor.org.uk/survey/D00933|title=National Pipe Organ Register: D00933|access-date=20 October 2024}} In 2015 an undated chamber organ was on loan to the church and located in the north transept; it had arrived in the church from Cark Methodist Church after it closed in 2005.{{Cite web|url=https://npor.org.uk/survey/P00669|title=National Pipe Organ Register: P00669|access-date=20 October 2024}}

There are two bells: one dating from 1883 by John Warner & Sons and the other from 1868 by Naylor, Vickers & Co.{{Cite web|url=https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/tower/23194|title=Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers: Sawrey|access-date=20 October 2024}} Only the Warner bell is in use.{{Cite web|url=https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/tower/23194|title=Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers: Sawrey|access-date=20 October 2024}}

File:St Peter's Parish Church, Sawrey, Stained glass window - geograph.org.uk - 822441.jpg

File:St Peter's Parish Church, Sawrey, Organ - geograph.org.uk - 822436.jpg organ]]

There is one WWI war grave in the churchyard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/4023346/g-s-coward/|title=CWGC: G S Coward|access-date=20 October 2024}} Two further war graves (in France) are commemorated on gravestones in the churchyard.

Other burials include:

• Flt Lt Johnnie Johnson DFC, one of the Dambusters airmen.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-67592104|title=BBC News: Dambusters raid airman's gallantry medal sells for £105k|work=BBC News |date=2 December 2023 |access-date=20 October 2024}}
• The Revd Alexander MacLeod Murray, chaplain to the Bela Camp for German and Italian POWs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cumbrianlives.org.uk/lives/rev-alexander-macleod-murray.html|title=Cumbrian Lives: The Revd Alexander MacLeod Murray|access-date=20 October 2024}}

The area of the parish was originally part of the parish of Hawkshead; it became a separate parish in 1873.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawksheadbenefice.co.uk/sawrey|title=Hawkshead Benefice: St Peter's, Sawrey|access-date=20 October 2024}} In 1982 it became part of a united benefice with Hawkshead, and in turn in 2003 the parishes of Rusland and Satterthwaite joined the united benefice.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawksheadbenefice.co.uk/sawrey|title=Hawkshead Benefice: St Peter's, Sawrey|access-date=20 October 2024}} There is a weekly service (2024).{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawksheadbenefice.co.uk/sawrey|title=Hawkshead Benefice: St Peter's, Sawrey|access-date=20 October 2024}}

• Listed buildings in Claife

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Category:Church of England church buildings in Cumbria

Category:19th-century Church of England church buildings

Category:Diocese of Carlisle

Category:Grade II listed churches in Cumbria