Buttermere, St James

From the 12th century until 1884, Buttermere was part of the ancient parish of Brigham. Until 1856 all of west Cumbria south of the River Derwent was in the Diocese of Chester. Buttermere and the surrounding area entered the Diocese of Carlisle in the 1880's.

Legend says the very first church was sited east of Rannerdale Farm. Rectangular footings 30'x18' are claimed to be the remains of a chantry chapel built to celebrate victory by the Saxon earl, Boethar (from whom Buttermere derives its name) over the Norman invaders.

A small chapel of ease with an adjoining schoolroom, a few yards above the present church, was in use in the mid 18th century. The only surviving relics of this earlier chapel are the font bowl, and outside, two stone piers with simple capitals, giving entrance to the enclosure around the 'new' church.

The present church is dedicated to St. James the Great, Apostle and Martyr, and patron saint of pilgrims. It was built in 1840 at the expense of the Revd Vaughan Thomas of Oxford, with stone from Sour Milk Ghyll. In 1884 the east end was extended to make a sanctuary, with a vestry added to the north side. The west porch was added in 1933, designed and built with local assistance by Harold L Thompson, brother-in-law of the then vicar, the Revd Geoffrey Orme. The stone came from the lower slopes of Red Pike, just across the valley.

Between 1929 and 1935 the church interior was completely refurbished with gifts from parishioners and visitors, including the credence table and priest's stall from Archbishop and Mrs William Temple. Electric lighting was installed in 1957, and the pipe organ in 1990.

The wrought iron gate at the porch entrance, depicts shepherd, ewe and lamb. Made by Gilbert Hodgson at Warcop in 1968; it is a memorial to the Revd Geoffrey Orme and Harold L Thompson. This beautiful piece of wrought iron work is evocative of the everyday life of the valley, the ministry of the church in its midst, and of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, whose altar the church shelters.

Stained glass memorial windows of note include the 1893 'Martha & Mary' east window, and the one by the pulpit, both in memory of wives of past incumbents.

Other features of interest include the 1914-1918 War Memorial and the remarkable 1945 bronze in memory of Alan Catherall, who lost his life serving with the RAF in Java, witness to the share of the valley's people in the nation's history; the memorial tablet to Alfred Wainwright, author of the famous Lakeland fell walking guides. Placed in the southwest window in 1994, this window looks out up the valley towards Haystacks ... his favourite place!

Opening Times
Daily during reasonable daylight hours

Service Times
*Note: services at 6pm from 1st April to 30th September, otherwise at 3.30pm

1st Sunday	6pm (3.30pm in winter*)	Evensong BCP
2nd Sunday	6pm (3.30pm in winter*)	Evensong BCP
3rd Sunday	6pm (3.30pm in winter*)	Holy Communion CW
4th Sunday	6pm (3.30pm in winter*)	Evensong BCP
5th Sunday	6pm (3.30pm in winter*)	Evensong BCP