Profile of the Parish of St Oswald 2

Profile of the Parish of St Oswald, Grasmere

Introduction

The ancient ecclesiastical Parish of Grasmere is one of 267 parishes in the Diocese of Carlisle and the most northerly of 21 parishes in the Deanery of Windermere. It is located at the centre of the Lake District National Park, where it nestles in a peaceful vale surrounded by some of the most tranquil and beautiful countryside in the world.

The Parish Church is dedicated to Saint Oswald, Northumbrian king and martyr, who is believed to have preached the word of Christ in Grasmere sometime before his death in 642 AD, in battle with the pagan king of Mercia. The Church is a Grade One listed building at the heart of the Grasmere Conservation Area. The oldest part of the present building dates from the mid-thirteenth century, but was enlarged principally in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries when the parish prospered as an important sheep-rearing and wool-processing centre. The external

appearance of the church is of a plain stone and rendered character, but the interior is beautiful in the simple manner of traditional Lakeland churches. The single most impressive feature is its oak-beamed roof, likened by many to the beams and spars of a sixteenth century square-rigged ship.

The Queen's College, Oxford is Patron of the Parish.

The Church has a long musical tradition and a dedicated choir. There is a fine organ installed by a local family in 1923 and regarded by many as the 'best 'parish organ in the diocese. The church also has a Steinway piano on long term loan. Musical and literary recitals take place in the Church throughout the year.

We think it is important that the church is open during daylight hours throughout the year. It receives well over a 100.000 visitors a year who come from all corners of the world. They frequently comment on the peace and tranquillity they have found in the church.

Parish Mission

There are two principal strands of Christian Mission in the parish.

The first strand, shared with all Church of England parishes, is ministry to everyone within the parish community. This has lead the PCC to take a more active role in ensuring that we are available as a Church to all in the Parish, not only those who worship regularly.

The second strand is to minister to and encourage visitors to share in the Christian life.

Patterns of Worship and Parish Life

Churchmanship

The style of worship is 'middle of the road,' - with a good mixture of services including a recent development of congregation-led services. For communion services the Clergy and choir are led in procession by a hand-crafted, oak, processional cross. Lay members of the congregation usually read lessons; they also lead the intercessions. The number of church members on the 2016 Electoral Roll is 71. The Average Sunday Attendance at church services during the last year was 50 including visitors. The peak attendances occur at the major church and local festivals. This is especially true on Christmas Eve and Rushbearing when the church is standing room only!

The number of baptisms, confirmations, marriages and funerals is between 10-15 each year. There is a particularly strong sense of local solidarity at village funerals when the church is usually full. Increasingly, weddings are conducted for those who live outside the village.

Sunday Services

1st Sunday Community / Family Service 2nd Sunday Holy Communion (CW)

3rd Sunday Holy Communion (CW) or Methodist every third month 4th Sunday Holy Communion (CW)

We also have Iona services several times a year.

Weekday Services

10.30 am - Wednesday Holy Communion (said, using the 1662 BCP)

Additional services are held during Advent, at Christmas (Nine Lessons & Carols, and candlelight service), on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, during Lent, and on Easter Day. There are usually several special services of choral evensong or 'Songs of Praise' during the year, with an augmented or a visiting choir.

Bible Study & Discussion Groups

Various Times-Weekly during Lent, using specially-selected Notes.

The Church Choir

We are thrilled to welcome our new organist and Director of Music Ian Hare who is one of the most

experienced and gifted organist in the county and country . The numbers of the choir have increased greatly and Ian enjoys playing our special organ, one of the best in the county. He has welcomed the Grasmere Glee club to sing with the choir and will help bring more people in to the church

The Parochial Parish Council

An active and diverse PCC meets regularly at least five times a year. It sometimes takes decisions by a Standing Committee. At present there are 14 members from all parts of the village community, including a connection with the school. The PCC is represented on the Windermere Deanery Synod. The PCC has recently produced a new MAP in

which it sets out a vision to be more inclusive and devote considerable time and resources to outreach. ( we held several Parish meals, an event open to all which seem very successful.). The PCC is particular keen to engage with children, young families and adults and of course, respond to the needs of the elderly. In addition, there is a Buildings Committee working to solve the difficulties with the Church tower render and ensuring the maintenance of the clock and carillon.

The C of E (voluntary aided) village primary school

The School in Grasmere is quite simply an outstanding place of learning and the Church is keen to maintain strong links with education. Pupils come into Church to worship once a week and are active in other services throughout the year.

Most recently the school staged a thought provoking exhibition in the church focussing on the plight of refugees which attracted a wonderful national response. Children also came into Church to celebrate the Queen's birthday with a birthday lunch-- the Church looked wonderful adorned with Union flags. To help support the school there is a strong network of volunteers from the community. To really understand the richness of education that the Head Teacher and her team provide please visit the school web page www.grasmereschool.com or Grasmere School on Facebook. A copy of the recent excellent SIAMS inspection can be seen at http://www.grasmereschool.com/our-school/inspection-reports/

Parish Magazine

We are fortunate to have a husband and wife team who edit the monthly parish magazine, which is very popular and almost entirely financed by advertisements. It is distributed free of charge by volunteers to every household in the parish. The magazine is available on line and again will give a good idea of the range of activities that take place in Grasmere. This helps to keep the church at the heart of the community. http://parishmag.willow-bank.net

Finance and Parish Offer

Our Parish Offer is at present 37,800 which is met but with some difficulty. It is necessary to be aware that expenditure has exceeded income (which includes building rental) in recent years by c 20k pa, the difference being made up by bequests. Various actions are now being taken by the PCC to reduce expenditure and increase income. We have a considerable liability on the horizon as the church tower needs careful but extensive re-rendering. A new architect has recently been engaged and is working with SPAB, EH and the Diocese and work is expected to start in February. We anticipate fundraising and applying for heritage and other funding.

Friends of St Oswald's

The Friends of St Oswald's aims to generate funds to assist with maintenance and enhancement of the fabric of the church and associated buildings. The major fundraising activity was the 'Daffodil Garden' which was a celebration for all those who felt a connection with Grasmere and wanted this remembered, but the garden is now full. Please see www.friendsofgrasmere.org

The charities also sponsored by the garden are The Lakeland Housing Trust., the National Trust and The Wordsworth Trust. Because so many houses are snapped up as holiday homes, it becomes more and more difficult to find affordable housing for locals. The Housing Trust buys and lets homes to young families at a subsidised rent.

William Wordsworth

The Wordsworth Trust enriches Grasmere in many ways with knowledge and a fabulous collection of literary resources and by welcoming annual secondments of young post graduates working with other people in the village. The trust works well with the community and the church is often used for poetry readings or art exhibitions.

The Wordsworth Trust have worked with the village history society to put on occasional exhibitions. Wordsworth spent many years in the village and is buried with members of his family in our churchyard overlooking the river Rothay.. Some of his best poetry were written at Dove Cottage. As his family extended he moved to Allen Bank, which had terribly smoking chimneys ! It is now a NT property where the school us the grounds currently and a delightful family activities.and home of Red squirrels.

The Wordsworth family did live in the Grasmere Rectory for a short time before moving to Rydal Mount!. He also helped in the village school occasionally which is now the gingerbread shop - a church owned building (rented out).

Wordsworth is a draw to the church and his memorial is in our church, not in Westminster Abbey. Our church bookshop has an excellent books including collections of his poems biographies and histories of the family - as well as cards and Christian books..

Grasmere Rush-bearing

The origin of the famous Grasmere Rush-bearing Festival is los