March 2024 by Valerie Hinchliffe
A delightful old village church, best known for its association with the poet William Wordsworth, but well worth a visit in its own right. I came here while on a day trip, and was impressed not only with this church's great antiquity - it dates from around 1250 but its origins go back to Saxon times - but also its welcoming atmosphere and the friendliness of the locals I met there. It stands right next to the River Rothay, and it is believed that the tower was built of boulders from the riverbed. The most spectacular feature inside the church is the unique timber framed roof above the nave, and there are also some small but beautiful stained glass windows. I found the info panel describing the ancient rushbearing ceremony, still held here every July, very interesting reading. There's a nice little bookshop near the entrance. The Wordsworth family graves are behind the church, close to a lovely daffodil garden, and there's a quaint little gingerbread shop in a former schoolhouse next to the churchyard entrance. There's usually a queue here, but the gingerbread is well worth the wait!
September 2023 by DENNY JAMES ALUKKA
Quite and beautiful placeSituated by the banks of the River Rothay in the centre of Grasmere village, St Oswald?s is a historic place of worship, much loved by local people and over 100,000 visitors each year. Its services are attended by a faithful, local congregation as well as many who come to stay in Grasmere. St Oswald?s has a fine musical reputation and is home to the annual Grasmere Rushbearing.St Oswald's Church is in the village of Grasmere, in the Lake District, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle.[3] The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.[4] As well as its architectural interest, the church is notable for its associations with the poet, William Wordsworth and his family, and for its annual ceremony of rushbearing.St Oswald's dates from the 12th century, with an extension in the following century.[2] The chancel was added in the 15th century and the sanctuary in the 17th century. An extensive restoration was carried out between 1967 and 1973, which included new pews and a pulpit.The church is built in blocks of calciferous sandstone and has green slate roofs. The roofs have coped gables and cross finials. Its plan consists of a three bay nave with a south aisle and a south porch, and a three-bay chancel with a north vestry. On the gable between the nave and the chancel is a twin open bellcote. Gargoyles stretch from the eaves of the chancel. The lower courses of the north wall of the nave and a blocked doorway date from the 12th century, and a medieval cross slab is built into this wall. The remainder of the fabric of the nave is from the 13th century. The chancel dates from the 15th century and in its east wall is a Tudor three-light window. The vestry dates from the 20th century. The arcade consists of four rounded-headed arches on round piers. The south wall of the aisle has recesses for a tomb and for an aumbry, and there is an aumbry in the south wall of the chancel. The bowl of the font is Norman, supported on a 20th-century shaft. The stained glass in the west window dates from the 19th century.[2] The single-manual organ was built in 1975 by Eric Mason of Bolton
June 2023 by Patrick Van calck
Lovely old church in grasmere. At the moment they're renovating it. Hopefully it will soon be ready.
December 2022 by Patrica Hampson
Well worth popping in when we were in Grasmere looking at Wordsworth's grave. A beautiful church full of history.
November 2022 by ????
There was Wordsworth's grave.It was raining so there was a good atmosphere.
November 2022 by Merlin Reader
Lovely little old church. One of the few places in Grasmere where you are safe from dogs, although they are allowed in the cemetery, for no obvious reason.
November 2022 by Jane Berrie
The organist was practising when we entered the church and he was really good.
November 2022 by Georgiana Marius
Nice architecture. Outside in the garden you can find William Wordsworth grave.
November 2021 by Shane Lawson
Lovely old Church with loads of history. Extremely friendly vicar was in the church when we visited.
November 2020 by Ray Restel
Beautiful little church.
November 2020 by Atiq Massan
A very old a very famous church. The whole family of THE most famous poet is buried here... guess his name??? I went to see this place especially to lay flowers there. His writings amd his life story how he lives in such a peaceful place and probably that was what gave wordsworth the inspiration to write. The Church itself is small but very old architecture. Graves are between the church and grasmere gingerbread shop, i.e on north west side of church. One of the must goto places above ALL others if you visit lake district.
November 2020 by Karen Gleeson
This church is lovely inside and out.Wordsworth graves are here.Grasmere is unique and the surrounding areas are fantastic.
November 2019 by Alan Carter
Beautiful. A gorgeous church in Grasmere which holds the burial site of William Wordsworth, the famous English poet. Right by the church is a curving pavement with names and places if those who funded each slab. In addition is a lovely, small girl gingerbread shop that sells some amazing treats! Great adventures to had! Lovely family day out.
