St Olaf's Church, Wasdale
Encyclopedia
St Olaf's Church in Wasdale Head
, Cumbria
, is one of England
's smallest churches. The earliest record of the church is from 1550, though it probably predates this, as the beams are said to come from a Viking
longship
.
in 1977, before which it had no name. The parson of that time, the Reverend Raymond Bowers, had friends in Norway
, and it was he who suggested the name. One of the current churchwardens, Bill Bailey, has written a guide to the church and the Wasdale
valley: The Vikings: Wasdale Head and Their Church. The book sought to clarify the age of the church; and to mark the 2nd millennium the Bishop of Penrith
, the Right Reverend Richard Garrard
, made a unilateral declaration—on the Sunday nearest the Feast of St Olaf, 30 July 2000—that the church building was at least 1,000 years old, dating from before AD 1000. At the same time, the bishop dedicated a "millennium stone" on the Wasdale Head Green, using the stone as an altar for the service.
The church has long been associated with British climbers
. The south window has a small pane within it with an etching of Napes Needle on Great Gable
, serving as a memorial to members of the Fell & Rock Climbing Club
who lost their lives in the First World War
. A well-attended silence is kept every year on Remembrance Sunday
at 11 AM.
The church is a grade II listed building. The parish of Wasdale Head is within the Calder deanery of the Diocese of Carlisle
.
Visitor information.
The church is part of the Benefice of St. Mary, Gosforth; St. Michael & All Angels, Nether Wasdale; and St Olaf, Wasdale Head. The present Priest-in-charge is Rector Jonathan Falkner, his wife Sheila is the Reader (now Licensed Lay Minister), and Mrs Hannah Norris is the Commissioned Lay Pastoral Minister. All are members of the Parochial Church Council at Wasdale Head. The other churchwarden is Andrew Naylor-Lopez, part of a local farming family in Wasdale.
The church is open to visitors in the daytime. As well as a Visitors Book at the back of the church, a Prayer Book is kept near the front where Prayer Requests may be written. The Book is read by the Lay Pastoral Minister (or the Rector) at least once weekly, and people and situations are then prayed for. These are usually also included at the next Service. Services are held at major festivals such as Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, and most Sundays throughout British Summer Time. Notice of any other Services are displayed on the Hymn Board in the church, as well as on the weekly Notice Sheet and monthly Church Magazine; usually available in the church, or can be obtained from St. Mary's Church, Gosforth or the Rectory.
Wasdale Head
Wasdale Head is a small agricultural village in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The village claims to be home of the highest mountain , deepest lake , smallest church and biggest liar in England...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, is one of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's smallest churches. The earliest record of the church is from 1550, though it probably predates this, as the beams are said to come from a Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
longship
Longship
Longships were sea vessels made and used by the Vikings from the Nordic countries for trade, commerce, exploration, and warfare during the Viking Age. The longship’s design evolved over many years, beginning in the Stone Age with the invention of the umiak and continuing up to the 9th century with...
.
History
The church was dedicated to St OlafOlaf II of Norway
Olaf II Haraldsson was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He was posthumously given the title Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae and canonised in Nidaros by Bishop Grimkell, one year after his death in the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030. Enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral...
in 1977, before which it had no name. The parson of that time, the Reverend Raymond Bowers, had friends in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and it was he who suggested the name. One of the current churchwardens, Bill Bailey, has written a guide to the church and the Wasdale
Wasdale
Wasdale is a valley and civil parish in the western part of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The River Irt flows through the valley to its estuary at Ravenglass. A large part of the main valley floor is occupied by Wastwater, the deepest lake in England...
valley: The Vikings: Wasdale Head and Their Church. The book sought to clarify the age of the church; and to mark the 2nd millennium the Bishop of Penrith
Bishop of Penrith
The Bishop of Penrith is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle, in the Province of York, England. The title takes its name from the town of Penrith in Cumbria and was first created under the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534.-List of the Bishops of...
, the Right Reverend Richard Garrard
Richard Garrard
Richard Garrard was the seventh Suffragan Bishop of Penrith in the modern era. He was born on 24 May 1937 and educated at Northampton Grammar School and King's College London.Ordained in 1962 he began his career with a Curacy in Woolwich and was then successively a Chaplain at Keswick Hall College...
, made a unilateral declaration—on the Sunday nearest the Feast of St Olaf, 30 July 2000—that the church building was at least 1,000 years old, dating from before AD 1000. At the same time, the bishop dedicated a "millennium stone" on the Wasdale Head Green, using the stone as an altar for the service.
The church has long been associated with British climbers
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
. The south window has a small pane within it with an etching of Napes Needle on Great Gable
Great Gable
Great Gable is a mountain lying at the very heart of the English Lake District, appearing as a pyramid from Wasdale , but as a dome from most other directions. It is one of the most popular of the Lakeland fells, and there are many different routes to the summit...
, serving as a memorial to members of the Fell & Rock Climbing Club
Fell & Rock Climbing Club
The Fell & Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District is the senior climbing club covering the English Lake District. It was founded in 1906–1907 and, amongst its other activities, publishes the rock climbing guides to the area. It owns many of the early climbing photographs The Fell &...
who lost their lives in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. A well-attended silence is kept every year on Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday
In the United Kingdom, 'Remembrance Sunday' is held on the second Sunday in November, which is the Sunday nearest to 11 November Armistice Day. It is the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War at 11 a.m...
at 11 AM.
The church is a grade II listed building. The parish of Wasdale Head is within the Calder deanery of the Diocese of Carlisle
Diocese of Carlisle
The Diocese of Carlisle was created in 1133 by Henry I out of part of the Diocese of Durham, although many people of Celtic descent in the area looked to Glasgow for spiritual leadership. The first bishop was Æthelwold, formerly the king's confessor and now prior of the Augustinian priory at...
.
Visitor information.
The church is part of the Benefice of St. Mary, Gosforth; St. Michael & All Angels, Nether Wasdale; and St Olaf, Wasdale Head. The present Priest-in-charge is Rector Jonathan Falkner, his wife Sheila is the Reader (now Licensed Lay Minister), and Mrs Hannah Norris is the Commissioned Lay Pastoral Minister. All are members of the Parochial Church Council at Wasdale Head. The other churchwarden is Andrew Naylor-Lopez, part of a local farming family in Wasdale.
The church is open to visitors in the daytime. As well as a Visitors Book at the back of the church, a Prayer Book is kept near the front where Prayer Requests may be written. The Book is read by the Lay Pastoral Minister (or the Rector) at least once weekly, and people and situations are then prayed for. These are usually also included at the next Service. Services are held at major festivals such as Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, and most Sundays throughout British Summer Time. Notice of any other Services are displayed on the Hymn Board in the church, as well as on the weekly Notice Sheet and monthly Church Magazine; usually available in the church, or can be obtained from St. Mary's Church, Gosforth or the Rectory.