A simple-mission style church built by the Benedictines in the 1890s.

Frizington is part of the Benedictine mission in West Cumberland, and was an offshoot of Cleator. An iron church was built in 1890 to serve the needs primarily of Irish immigrants and their families. This was replaced by the present church, for which Fr Burchall OSB laid the foundation stone on 10 July 1896. The church was opened in late January 1897, when the celebrant was the prior of St Edmund’s College, Douai. No architect appears to have been involved; the contractor was Robert Pearson of Cleator Moor, The contract cost was just under £1,000 (Maryport Advertiser, 30 January 1897).

Description

The church is single-cell, under a pitched roof with a small porch/narthex at the front, and a presbytery house attached at the rear. The exterior is faced with pebbledash, with stone dressings painted red, the roof covering is Welsh slate. The sides are divided by thin stepped buttresses, in each of which is a single lancet window with stained glass. Interior not inspected.

Entry amended by AHP 19.09.2026

Heritage Details