The Parish of Eskdale

Saint John, Waberthwaite

In a farm yard I mile off the A595 near Waberthwaite.

St John's church waberthwaite

Waberthwaite Church is remarkable in location and in simplicity. Its history may not be excitingbut it has sat quietly by the estuary of the River Esk for over a thousand years. It is a simple barn shaped building with box pews and a graveyard that, in Spring, defies description - a veritable carpet of colour.

The Church is the spiritual home of the sixty four households of Waberthwaite. Farmers of the coastlands and lower fells look upon this as their spiritual centre. In the village of Waberthwaite there is a Church School which serves three or four parishes but has a particular link with the people of Corney - this applies to everything in Waberthwaite. The village is famous for its production of the Royal Sausage - Woodall’s establishment having the Royal Warrant for producing Cumberland Sausage.

The Church itself warrants a visit and it takes a bit of finding, but the road off the A595 is marked - it is one mile north of the main village settlement. When the Church is meeting visitors are particularly welcome, but just to find the place, walk in its yard and enter its ancient door and offer a prayer is the way to some kind of peace.