About

At the heart of Wasdale Head sits the little church of St Olaf’s, a centre of Christian worship for a thousand years.

The church is situated at the side of an ancient packhorse trail from where you can access some of England’s highest mountains. Why not call in on your way to or from the fells and spend a few quiet moments in this sacred space.

This sturdy stone building can accurately be described as ‘a little stable’ with pews, ancient beams and a flagstone floor.

St Olaf’s can seat 35 people and is a perfect place to worship God.

Come and join us – services are held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday each month.

i am a little church

i am a little church (no great cathedral)
far from the splendour and squalor of hurrying cities
- i do not worry if briefer days grow briefest,
i am not sorry when sun and rain make april

my life is the life of the shepherd and the sheep;
my prayers are prayers of earth’s own clumsily striving
(finding and losing and laughing and crying) children
whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness

around me surges a miracle of unceasing
birth and glory and death and resurrection;
over my sleeping self float flaming symbols
of hope, and I wake to a perfect patience of mountains

i am a little church (far from the frantic
world with its rapture and anguish) at peace with nature
- i do not worry if longer nights grow longest;
i am not sorry when silence becomes singing

winter by spring, I lift my diminutive self to
merciful Him Whose only now is forever;
standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence
(welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)


e cummings (1894 – 1962)
The poet used only the capitals shown, his name he wrote in minors too, and no punctuation. This humility suits a little church like St Olaf’s.

Find more poems about St Olaf's here.

Safeguarding – The parish of Gosforth & Wasdale is committed to safeguarding. Any matters of concern should be reported to our Parish Safeguarding Officers, Steven & Susan Round e: safeguarding.gosforth.wasdale@gmail.com t: 01946 841 626, or if appropriate to the local authority or the police.