A Lake District church is set to carry out its first major restoration in 132 years – thanks to a fundraising push.
St Olaf’s Church, in Wasdale, has been raising money since 2023 in an effort to carry out essential work to keep it fit for visitors.
The passage of time, weather and heavy footfall have taken their toll on the Grade II-listed 500-year-old church, which has left it in urgent need of repair and restoration.
While trustees of the church had hoped to see work start sooner over the past few years – the work required is both very extensive and expensive, and a total of £210,000 is needed to complete all the work the building needs.
Earlier this year, we shared the church’s plea for help to raise funds for a restoration project and as a result, a further £5,000 was raised, bringing the church’s fundraising total to around £121,380.
Hugh Foulerton, chair of the church’s trustees, said thanks to the extra push, the church is now finally able to start the essential work to fix the historic building in March next year.
He said: “Work is going to start in March, the builder will move in after our last service at the end of February and they will start the preparatory work inside.
“The March weather might not be great, but they will crack on with the inside work and as the weather improves move to the outside work.
“The desire is to bring the church back to what it would have been like when it was first built. Except it will have things like heating and glazed windows. It’s just a little barn that was built 500 years ago, it’s probably the crudest little church in England, but people love it.
“We started planning to fundraise in 2022 and actually starting fundraising in 2023, but the trouble is any alterations or improvement to listed buildings is expensive.
“It’s a lot to pay, but it will see it right for the next 100 years and it’s a complete restoration, it will be brilliant.”
St Olaf’s is open to the public almost every day of the year and welcomes over 30,000 visitors annually, making it one of West Cumbria’s busiest visitor attractions.
It’s also the smallest parish church in England and has a 1,000-year history of worship on site, with old stories claiming some of the church’s ancient roof beams are made from Viking ships.
Hugh added: “We’ve been working towards this for a while, we hoped to do it last year, but we were nowhere near our total.
“Everything we’ve raised has been from our visitors and supporters with Cumbrian connections. Around 50 per cent of visitors come from the North West, but we also have many overseas visitors and one year 43 countries were represented in our visitor book.
“It’s such a simple litte building so humble simple slate and timber roof and built from rubble taken from fields at wasdale head, its the most basic of buildings can be and it has an amazing affect on people.
“I think what it is, is that you have the wonders of creation all around you and then this tiny little building that is a summary of God’s creation, the wonders and the humility.”
Work to restore the church will include essential roof repairs, the replacement of the internal plaster of the church and the re-rendering of its exterior. Improvements to heating, lighting, internal furniture and accessibility are also needed.
Hugh said the church is also set to host two festive services over the Christmas period, which all are welcome to attend.
The church’s annual carols at the inn event is taking place tonight, Wednesday December 17, at 6pm and on Christmas day, the church will hold its Christmas service at 11.15am.
Hugh added that it’s also a good chance for people to visit the church as it currently stands before the improvement work begins in March.
He added: “Our carols at the inn event is very popular and it’s hosted at the Wasdale Head Inn. The bar does get quite full for it and we drink pints and sing carols.
“It is an unusual setting for carols, but it’s only because the church is so tiny we can’t get everyone in!
“Lots of people from around the area come, it’s a community event, we have people from Egremont, Beckermet and Kendal come, and it’s been going on for 20 years now.
“Our organist also brings her keyboard and she acompanies and we have guitar there as well, it’s a community event.
“Our Christmas day service is also always well attended, that goes ahead at 11.15am on the day, and it’s a popular event that is open to everyone, we’re a very relaxed Christian outfit.
“It’s a good last chance to see it as it is until the end of February and then I hope people do make sure they come and see it next autumn.”
Both Christmas events are free to attend and everyone is welcome to turn up and join the festivities.
