St. Mary & St. Michael's Church, Urswick, Lancashire, England
St Mary and St Michael's Church is the oldest church in the Furness area. Tradition says a church has existed on this site since the 10th Century. Support for this belief is based on the discovery of a Viking cross in 1909,and in 1911 the Tunwinni Cross was found and dated by W.G. Collingwood as 9th Century. These cross fragments are on view inside the Church.
As you enter the knave, the oldest part of the Church, is a hexagonal font which dates from the Medieval period. It has a splendid carved cover, showing dolphins encircling the heads of children. The chancel arch has a an oak rood beam with a cross bearing a dove supported by angels. There are various stained glass windows worth looking at. The East window is unusual in that it contains various Coats of Arms. In the centre are the Arms of Queen Mary (1554).
Lovers of good carving will find much to admire. Much of it was done by Alec Miller, of the Guild of Handicrafts, Chipping Camden in the early 20th Century. The figure on the North side of the chancel is St James the pilgrim, bearing the scallop shell motif. This motif is repeated in many parts of the Church.
