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Western Lakes District Churches
Western District Churches Website
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Welcome to the 'Western Lakes District Churches' Website
On this site you will information on all the parishes that make up the benefice, not forgetting that we have now become a larger benefice and our sister parishes will also be recorded on this site. These will include the parishes of: Drigg, Bootle, Corney, Whitcham and Whitbeck. The latter four churches constitute the Black Combe Churches.
The Name of the new benefice is "The Western Lake District Churches" and in the next few days you will be able to access this website by the new name (please do not try just yet!) as well as the current name (www.eskdalebenefice,org.uk). The title of this website, currently Eskdale Benefice, will also change. This 'lead-in' is to give people who have used this website for some years to adjust to the change.
I have set up a page on this site to show the Blackcombe Churches website in an iFrame.
Click on " Black Combe Churches " in the menu bar on the left side of the page.
We will try and keep up to date with all the service times and locations.
Remember that if you have a query the best person to contact is a member of the Parish concerned, not the vicar who is probably hurrying between appointments.
Please be sure that you will have a warm welcome to any of our church services.
If you have queries about this website please contact me via the Contacts page. If you do spot any inaccuracies (there are bound to be some!) please let me know and I will correct them, if possible. -
Benefice Safeguarding Policy and Contact Details of Parish Safeguarding Officers and Support Organisations
Promoting a safer church
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Latest News and Announcements. The Parish Magazine
The latest edition of the magazine is out!
Don’t forget - Songs of Praise at St Catherine’s Church at 11 am on June 23rd.
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Being Christian. **Training Opportunities at St Cuthbert’s Seascale, 17th July at 7.30pm.**
Training Opportunities St Cuthbert’s Seascale, 17th July at 7.30pm.
The mission community is holding a gathering to explore the training opportunities available to local people through the Church. This will take place at St Cuthbert’s Seascale on Wednesday 17th July at 7.30pm. We are hoping to be able to host more training locally and to ensure this is as effective as it can be we want to hear from you. What would you be interested in? What would help you in your Christian life and service?
Recently we have held a couple of short courses locally helping us to grow in our understanding of the Christian faith. These have been stimulating but not academic and have helped us get to know one another from across the local churches. Do you want more of these kind of events or more practical skill based opportunities, like the training on offer to PCC Treasurer’s from the Diocesan Stewardship Advisor on 3rd June at St Mary’s Gosforth at 7.00pm? Some people have expressed an interest in prayer retreats whilst others have requested Safeguarding Training. Whatever your interest or perceived need arranging training through the mission community makes it easier to bring in trainers and create viable groups with content that fits our needs, hopefully improving the effectiveness of the training and reducing participants travel time.
We have invited Cumbria Christian Learning to create a market place of opportunities and resources and to send along a trainer to help explain what is involved in the various courses. If you are interested in coming along to Seascale and taking part in the discussions you would be very welcome. There should be something for everyone, from one off events to short courses of a few weeks, day retreats to vocational training.If you are interested give me a ring; Gill on 019467 24724
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Church Vision Statement.
There are many different kinds of partnerships that we may enter into over the course of our lives, from marriages to businesses arrangements; some short-term others life-long. What they all have in common if they are going to achieve their agreed goal is mutual respect about what each partner brings to the relationship. The Church cannot claim an unblemished record in Education but it has also, throughout its history, done a great deal to positively foster learning. The Church provided the first free schools in this country and that commitment to education being available for everyone remains the foundation of the partnership we enjoy locally between the Church and Church Schools today. Recently the Church of England has produced a document entitled Vision for Education. This document is not just for those involved with Church Schools but is intended to contribute to a much wider conversation within our society. What should education for life in the 21st century look like?
Not surprisingly, for a Church Vision Statement at its centre is the promise Jesus made, that he had come to give us ‘life in all its fulness’. The vision unpacks what this abundant life might look like for people in Britain today by focusing on four goals for education which it suggests will equip people to live well. It says that education should be;
•for wisdom, knowledge and skills
•for hope and aspiration
•for community and living well together
•for dignity and respect.
This ‘vision document’ is being very positively received both in Church and state schools throughout the country. It articulates what many good teachers believe and is finally affirming the importance of what they do, by creating the bigger picture in which education debates can be understood.
In the coming months both the Church and our Church Schools hope to be able to engage in a conversation with our local communities about what excites us about teaching and learning today and what values our communities believe important enough to pass on to our children to equip them for life both now and in the years to come.Gill
