A campaign has been launched to save a wall mentioned by legendary romantic poet William Wordsworth in one of his works.
A fundraiser has been launched to raise money to repair the churchyard wall at St Mary’s, Ennerdale which is threatened with collapse.
“Thus spake the homely Priest of Ennerdale.
It was a July evening; and he sate
Upon the long stone seat beneath the eaves
Of his old cottage …. Towards the field
In which the Parish Chapel stood alone,
Girt round with a bare ring of mossy wall…”
It is the “mossy wall” that is now in a state of collapse and it will cost almost £60,000 to repair, far beyond the means of the local church and community.
Earlier this year it was realized that tree roots were the main cause of damage to the wall.
“Tree surgeons have been asked to prevent the situation getting worse,” said Rev Ian Parker, the minister of the church, “but that has used up most of our available funds.
“We would like to do a really good job repairing the wall itself, in keeping with its historic character.”
There has been a chapel on the site of St Mary’s church since at least 1534, and the church says it is part of the heritage of Ennerdale and West Cumbria.
“We appreciate that with Covid affecting so many at present, it is not a good time to ask people to give money,” continued Rev Ian.
“But we hope people who value Ennerdale and its heritage, including West Cumbrians who come on day visits and people from across the UK and beyond who stop here at the end of the first day of the Wainwright Coast-to-coast walk, will support this project financially.”
