St Martin’s Church, Bowness
The Brief
Repairing the worst areas of water ingress while monitoring the wider roof and helping the church plan for future work.
St Martin’s was originally built as a chapel of ease for Kendal Parish Church before becoming a parish in its own right in the 14th century. The present church dates from the early 13th century and has changed considerably since, including the raising of the tower and the addition of the chancel.
The exterior is relatively plain, built from local stone, while the interior has a much richer character with areas of decorated wall plaster. The church is Grade I listed and sits in the heart of the Bowness Conservation Area.
John Coward Architects has carried out several inspections and repair projects at St Martin’s. One of the most urgent problems was water ingress through the lead roof covering over the south aisle. We were involved in a major phase of repair work to the south aisle, replacing the failing lead covering, and completed the work in April 2020.
Key features
- Grade I listed parish church
- Early 13th-century origins
- Major repair to the south aisle lead roof
- Replacement lead covering completed April 2020
- Ongoing inspection and monitoring of the remaining roofs
- Inspection of the medieval timber roof structure
- Advice supporting future roof repairs and fundraising
- Prominent position within Bowness Conservation Area
Securing time for further roof repairs
The south aisle had some of the worst leaks, so repairing that roof dealt with the most urgent area first. Other parts of the roof still allow water in, although not to the same extent, and the church continues to raise funds for the remaining work.
We have inspected the building several times and continue to monitor the condition of the roofs and ongoing water ingress. Inspections of the medieval timber roof structure have shown it is not heavily decayed, which has bought some time while the church works towards funding the next phase of repairs.
St Martin’s sits on an almost island-like site in the centre of Bowness, with a path around the building and views of it from all sides. It is a highly recognisable church for locals and visitors alike.
As with many of the churches we work with, there are ambitions for future change alongside the continuing need for repair. Funding remains one of the biggest constraints, so our role includes helping the church understand what needs attention now and what can follow when resources allow.
