[Illustration: THE LATE MARY L. ARMITT. _Frontispiece._] THE CHURCH OF GRASMERE: A HISTORY BY M. L. ARMITT (Author of _Ambleside Town and Chapel_) WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARGARET L. SUMNER _Frontispiece from a portrait by Fred Yates_ Kendal: Titus Wilson, Publisher Highgate 1912 TITUS WILSON, PRINTER, KENDAL CONTENTS PART I. PREFACE. INTRODUCTORY. THE DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH. THE SITE. PART II. THE PARISH. BOUNDARIES. TOWNSHIPS. LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE CHURCH. THE EIGHTEEN. PART III. RECORDS. PATRONS. MONASTIC CONTROL. THE CLERGY. THE CIVIL WARS. THE COMMONWEALTH. PART IV. THE FABRIC. THE FURNITURE. THE UP-KEEP OF THE CHURCH. CLEANING AND REPAIRS. EXTRACTS FROM CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS. PART V. LATER PARSONS OF GRASMERE. CHAPEL AND CURATES OF AMBLESIDE AND LANGDALE. SCHOOLS AND CLERKS. CHURCH RATES. NON-RATEPAYERS. REGISTERS. PRESENTMENTS, BRIEFS, AND CHARITIES. THE RUSH-BEARING. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Miss Armitt (_frontispiece_), from a portrait by Fred Yates. Exterior of St. Oswald's Church, Grasmere, from a photo, by Green, by permission of G. P. Abraham, Keswick, to face Part I. Inscription on the Alms-box, p. 3. Date on the Great Bell (Tenor), p. 20. Map of Grasmere Parish, to face Part II. From the Great Bell: Churchwardens' names (Hird), p. 23. From the Great Bell: Churchwardens' names (Wilson. Rigg), p. 39. Structure of the Interior of St. Oswald's, Grasmere, p. 41. From the Great Bell: Churchwardens' names (Mackereth). p. 45. From the Great Bell: "Churchwardens," p. 93. Font (from Table Book of W. Hone), copied by Miss S. Armitt, p. 95. From the Great Bell: "Gloria in Altissimis Deo," p. 99. Ancient Window in the South Wall. Outside View, p. 101. Profile of Stone Head, p. 104. Carved Stone Head, p. 105. Date on Old Bench End, p. 108. Old Bench End, p. 109. Old Pitch Pipe, p. 119. Old Altar, now used as a Credence Table, p. 127. The le Fleming Arms on the Great and Middle Bells, p. 140. Great Bell and Hammer, p. 142. Iron Work on the Inner Door of the Porch, p. 146. Hinges of the Outer Door of the Porch, p. 147. Door Handle within the Porch, p. 147. Old Collecting-plate with Handle, p. 150. Plan of Grasmere Church, drawn by W. Buckton, to face Part V. From the Great Bell: "Deo," p. 161. Founder's Mark from the Middle Bell: "E. Seller, Ebor," p. 180. From the Middle Bell: "Soli Deo Gloria," p. 188. The Treble, or Little Bell, p. 203. Recess in the Porch for Holy Water Stoup, p. 209. EDITOR'S PREFACE