Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (the) Nine Churches 1577 Harrison 1750 Pococke 1823 M

• the rectory of Browgham alias Nine kyrkes 1583 NB

• Nynekirke 1612 FF

• Nine Kirks 1653 CliffordL 3, PR

• ecclesia sancti Wilfridi vulgariter appellata Ninekirkes c.1713 CWl,83

• Nine Church 1789 PR(Brt)

Etymology

St Ninian's Church, (the ) Nine Churches 1577 Harrison, 1750 Pococke 33, 1823 M, the rectory of Browgham alias Nine kyrkes 1583 NB 392, Nynekirke 1612FF , Nine Kirks 1653 CliffordL 3, PR, ecclesia sancti Wilfridi vulgariter appellata Ninekirkes c. 1713 CW l, 83, Nine Church 1789 PR(Brt). The church and its name have been discussed by C. M. L. Bouch in CW 1, 80 ff, lv, 110–1, and W. D. Simpson ib lviii, 68–87. This isolated church on the bank of the Eamont is the parish church; as such it has been confused (c. 1713) with St Wilfrid's (infra ) near Brougham Hall.St Ninian's has been associated, probably rightly, with a dedication to the British saint, although this may be rationalisation of Nine Kirks.In 1750 Pococke 33 states that it is called Nine Churches 'because they say it has fain down nine times, and has been as often rebuilt'; it was certainly so on one occasion, when Lady Anne Clifford 'did cause the church of Nine Kirks to be pulled down and new built up again' (1659 CliffordL 86). It is not possible to go behind this folk-lore to the true etymology.