St Wilfrid's Church is one of two churches in our benefice (out of a handful nationally) to have been built during the Commonwealth and Protectorate (1649-1660).
Parish
St Wilfrid's lies in the parish of Clifton and Brougham, whose parish church is St Cuthbert's, Clifton. A map of the parish on the AChurchNearYou site can be found by clicking on this link.
Dedication
The church is dedicated to St Wilfrid.
History and architecture
A mediaeval chapel of ease serving Brougham Hall was rebuilt in 1658 by Lady Anne Clifford (1590-1676). Its proximity to the centre of population around Brougham Hall led to its becoming the principal place of worship in the parish, rather than the parish church of St Ninian, located north east in an isolated position. St Wilfrid's is Grade I listed but has ceased to be used for regular worship. It was transferred into the care of the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) in 2023.
Services
Churches in the care of the CCT are permitted to be hold a small number of services each year. St Wilfrid's is currently closed while CCT carry out an extensive programme of restoration.
Each year, at noon on April 2nd, there is a Service at the Countess’s Pillar (off the A66 westbound at Brougham) to commemorate the final time Lady Anne Clifford saw her mother.
Each year on Easter Sunday, a dawn service is held at 7.00am at the Millennium Stone, Eamont Bridge.
Visiting
Until December 2025, the church is closed for renovations and visiting cannot be arranged.
Useful links
The CCT page for St Ninian's can be found here.