Welcome

Welcome to Wasdale Head and England’s smallest parish church. Wasdale Head is the birthplace of English rock climbing and many of England’s finest fells are in the parish – among them Great Gable, Pillar, Steeple, Red Pike, and the highest – Scafell Pike, so is its deepest lake, Wastwater, and they jointly create a montage that was chosen as ‘Britain’s favourite view’ – see below!

Amongst these wonders of God’s creation sits the little church of St Olaf’s – the parish church of Wasdale Head. The site has been the base of the Christian Community here for over 1000 years – though the present sturdy little stone building only dates from circa 1525, replacing an earlier wooden church (or perhaps churches – as it is unlikely that a wooden building would have lasted over 500 years). St Olaf’s can quite accurately be described as a little stable, with pews, ancient beams and a flagstone floor – a perfect place to worship God. There’s an image of the interior below.

The church is OPEN daily from approximately 9am till shortly before dusk.

SERVICES – We hold services in St Olaf’s at 11am on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month throughout the year, and on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.

In September our services are on Sunday 11th September at 11am – Celtic Praise, and Sunday 25th September at 11am – HARVEST FESTIVAL, followed later by our HARVEST LUNCH at the Inn at 12.30pm. Tickets for the lunch cost £11 and are available from Hugh Foulerton (01946 725 725) or email wasdalehead.church@gmail.com

At Wasdale Head we celebrate harvest with enthusiasm and every ledge in the little church will be full of locally sourced fare and provisions collected for the North Lakes Foodbank. All donations during the Harvest week will be given to the North Lakes Foodbank.

HARVEST EXHIBITION – This will run from Saturday 17th September through till Sunday 2nd October. Its ten panels will illustrate church and community life in Wasdale Head, and our commitment to visitors and the wider world, and our mission ‘Faith in the Fells’. We look forward to welcoming you to our Harvest events.

There are services at Nether Wasdale Church at 9.30am. Nether Wasdale is at the other end of the Lake, and its fine little church is in the centre of the village – well worth a visit.

Both churches are equipped with excellent inns nearby!

Please bookmark this site and stay in touch! Thank you.