About Us

Sunday Worship at 11 a.m. 

Annual Rush Bearing Procession on a Saturday in early  July, followed by a service in the church. 

Annual Remembrance Sunday service in the church, beginning 10.50 a.m. followed by prayers at the War Memorial on Broadgate Recreation Ground LA22 9RJ 

St Oswald's Church is by the River Rothay, which runs into Grasmere, Rydal Water and Windermere. Ancient churches are often beside rivers because the people gathered to worship outside and new members of the Christian faith community were baptised in the river, joining God's family to share Holy Communion when a priest or bishop came along.

It is thought that King Oswald of Northumbria visited this spot as he passed through Rydale, the main route through the Lake District from north to south, in the 7th Century. He lived in exile among the monastic community on the Scottish island of Iona and when he won Northumberland in battle, he invited the monks to send a bishop to bring the Christian faith to his new people. King Oswald gave the island of Lindisfarne to his new bishop Aidan, a few miles offshore from Bamburgh, the royal base for Oswald and his family.

St Oswald's Church is probably, therefore, on a site dating back to the earliest days of Christianity in northern Britain. It is an ancient sacred place of prayer and song, reflection and gathering, baptism and sharing Holy Communion. The church has welcomed many significant worshippers over the centuries and is visited by international travellers paying their respects to William Wordsworth and his wider family, who are buried in the churchyard. There is a memorial to William in the church itself.

The annual Rush Bearing Ceremony is held in July, when rushes cut from nearby marshes are strewn across the church floor. Children and families from Grasmere School and the village carry a procession of wooden symbols with rushes wound round them through the village, singing the Rush Bearing song, arriving back in the church for a celebration service. 

There is a lovely Daffodil Garden between the churchyard and the river to walk through, as well as the beautiful, peaceful church to visit and to say a prayer.

St Oswald's has a wonderful organ and choir, leading worship including Choral Evensong from time to time. We welcome musicians and singers for the Music at Grasmere concert series. There are many social gatherings and events in the church and village.

We look forward to welcoming you.