St John’s Church, Newton Reigny

St John’s Church at Newton Reigny, Cumberland, is a peculiar little place. A Victorian chancel, which is too high, sits like an oversized hat on the older nave’s head. Inside, one is greeted with a collection of 12th and 13th-century pillars, arches and carved corbels. It probably served as the De Reigny family’s manorial chapel, a nearby earthwork possibly the site of the old manor house.

As well as the fascinating stonework and ancient font, two other features particularly arrested my attention. The first was external, and was a sundial. Cumbria receives even fewer sunny days than Lancashire, but we called on a day and time whereat the sun shone bright, and the sundial accurately told us it was midday.

The second feature was atop the altar in that oversized chancel. Instead of some gaudy cross or stylised crucifix, there was an open copy of the Bible. This is rather unusual for an English parish church, but I thought it was the most beautiful sight. Without, the sun shines and offers the time of day; within, God’s word is to be found, and shines light on eternal reality. The culture might be dark and the church enfeebled, but light there is for those who seek it. 

The moon and stars shall lose their light,
The sun shall sink in endless night;
Both heaven and earth shall pass away;
The works of nature all decay.

But they that in the Lord confide,
And shelter in his wounded side,
Shall see the danger overpast,
Stand every storm, and live at last.

What Christ has said must be fulfilled;
On this firm rock, believers build;
His word shall stand, his truth prevail,
And not one jot or tittle fail.

His word is this (poor sinners, hear);
“Believe on me, and banish fear;
Cease from your own works, bad or good,
And wash your garments in my blood.”

-Joseph Hart in Gadsby's Hymns, No 352