This site is a work in progress. We have only just started to create our website. Please bear with us while we work to make it more useful. Thank you.

St. Paul's church is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and adults, especially those who are vulnerable, and expects all office holders and volunteers to share this commitment. The PCC has adopted the House of Bishops’ ‘Promoting a Safer Church; Safeguarding Policy Statement’. For more information on safeguarding click through to our safeguarding page on the menu.

Signed Janet Jennings, parish safeguarding officer

St. Paul's looking north-east to Great Gable in the mists		The ninth century Irton Cross

If as a visitor to the area, you were to stumble unexpectedly upon St Paul’s Irton, you might be forgiven for wondering what such a building was doing here. There are no villages or hamlets in the parish. Pausing to take in the view from the church reveals only isolated farms and houses. Our striking Victorian Church stands on an ancient religious site above Irton and enjoys spectacular views across the fields to the fells. In the churchyard is a Celtic Cross around which Christians have gathered for worship since the ninth century. Irton Church continues this tradition today, drawing a scattered community together both socially and spiritually.

St Paul’s is a beautiful building in a stunning location. It is large, with a well-endowed churchyard, a peal of eight bells, gorgeous pre-Raphaelite stain glass saints and a very respectable listed organ. It is a building to be proud of but of course what is most important about Irton Church is the people. The building creates the space for people to gather but the welcome comes from the team of volunteers who make things happen.

The sociable nature of this scattered community needs a focus and the annual programme of services, concerts and exhibitions has contributed that for many years. Along with Santon Bridge Village Hall, the church provides the only public space in the parish. It is the venue for family celebrations as well as times of personal and national memorial.

I hope you find this website informative and helpful. It is the hope of the PCC that we can all enjoy St Paul’s as a venue for worship, reflection, and celebration for many generations to come. Those who have gone before us have left us an amazing legacy. Now it is our turn to decide what we will pass on to our children and grandchildren.