St Huberts
The Gothic, and slightly Moomin-like, Roman Catholic church of St Hubert’s sits just outside the village of Dunsop Bridge in the Langdale valley in the Forest of Bowland. It was built to the design of English architect Edwin Pugin and opened on the 2nd of May 1865 by Bishop Richard Roskell of Nottingham (1817-1873) who is famous for attending the first Vatican council in 1869 and retired nearby to Bishop’s cottage in the Dunsop valley.
It is dedicated to the Patron Saint of hunters, bowmen and forest workers, St Hubert, who is also the saint of the Forest of Bowland and features on a beautiful stained glass window which illuminates the interior.
Kettledrum
The construction of the church, and nearby Thorneyholme school, was financed by the winnings of a very famous racehorse called Kettledrum, winner of the 1861 Epsom Derby, whose owner was Colonel Charles Towneley of Towneley Hall at Burnley.
The Towneley’s holdings at the time included large tracts of the Forest of Bowland and Col. Charles himself held the ceremonial title of 12th ‘Bowbearer of Bowland’. One of his main interests was breeding racehorses and he had set up a stud farm at Root farm in Dunsop where he bred several successful horses, these were trained by his land agent Richard Eastwood (1801-1871), the son of a Burnley butcher (peculiar how so many butchers had connections with horse-racing!) whose descendants still live in the Bowland area.
The Towneley Angel
Richard Eastwood’s grave sits in the tiny graveyard of the church as does that of the last Towneley to be interred here, Mary Towneley.
Mary Towneley (1935-2001), was known as the ‘First Lady of Equestrianism’ and was the inspiration behind the creation of the Mary Towneley Loop, a bridleway which, incidentally, includes the Kettledrum Inn amongst its several hostelries.
Her resting place is overlooked by the ‘Towneley Angel’, a stunning white marble Angel which guards over the Towneley family vault, in 1981 sketches of the church and the Angel itself featured in Alfred Wainwright’s ‘Bowland sketchbook’.
St. Hubert’s Prayer, (also known as the ‘hunter’s prayer)
Holy St. Hubert, you were passionate about hunting, but upon hearing the voice of the Lord, you laid down your bow and took up the call to the priesthood.
By the miracles and conversions brought about through your intercession and example, you led others to adore and love God.
With great devotion and confidence in your powerful assistance, I beg the grace to grow in holiness and embrace the gift of serious Christian discipleship.
I ask this in the most Holy Name of Jesus Christ, our King and our God!
Amen.
A B-H
Northwest Nature and History 
I have to admit that I have never visited that church, despite passing many times.
The stained-glass window is a must. Thank you.
Enjoying your informative posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person