Fortified Church

Leaving the Lake District we stopped off at Newton Arlosh to see the lectern in St John's Church. According to John Timpson in his book of Country Churches, the lectern was made by Sara Losh out of bog oak in a similar style to her work at St Mary's in Wreay near Carlisle (don't miss it if you have the chance to go). The church was locked so took a photo through the window...but the lectern is not the same one as in the book. I wonder where did it go? Not to Wreay, they're not quite the same.

The main feature of St.John's is that it was built in 1303 as one of a few fortified churches in the Borders in defence against the Scots. The door is only 31 inches wide to deter attackers. It was Sara Losh who was responsible for the restoration of St Johns in 1843 after it had fallen into disrepair after the Dissolution and she made the eagle on the east end of the roof.

She must have been quite a gal!