Cumwhitton Church

St Mary’s Church at Cumwhitton in Cumbria did not look terribly interesting to begin with. Like many churches, it just appeared to be Victorian; I expected its interior to be nothing but dull, stained glass and faux-medieval décor. Imagine my pleasure, then, when I beheld several Norman arches, what appeared to be a Saxon window as well a late Saxon, Maltese-style cross head. Mutton dressed as lamb, if ever I saw it.

Our chapel might be late Georgian, but our message is far older. Indeed, walk into a faithful church in newly built premises and the point is even more eloquently made: behind a modern exterior lies a very ancient gospel. It was initially pronounced in Eden but it was first determined in the eternal, timeless counsels of the triune God long before any matter was created. When you hear or read that the Christian message was first preached in the AD30s, don’t believe it.