We are all delighted to welcome our new rector Rev Lawrence Basham to St Oswald’s. 

Lawrence has lived in Cumbria since 2020, moving from Ilkley, West Yorkshire with his wife Jemma, and their four children.

Before ordination, Lawrence owned and ran a fresh produce retail and wholesale business based in Otley and Ilkley, serving local residents and businesses in the Wharfedale area. In 2009 Lawrence sold his business and took up a position as director of children’s, youth and families’ ministries at All Saints parish church in Ilkley. Lawrence developed the programme for children and young people for eight years, including growing an Intern Scheme for young adults in the Leeds diocese.

During his time as a youth worker, Lawrence completed a degree in Mission and Ministry at Cliff College in Derbyshire before beginning his training for ordination in 2018 at St Hild theological college in Yorkshire.

In 2020 Lawrence moved to Bassenthwaite, was ordained in Carlisle Cathedral and began ministry as a curate, primarily based at St John’s in Keswick. In 2022 Lawrence moved to Staveley, becoming first curate in charge, and then team vicar, for the South Lakes group of churches.

Having experienced life both in the north and the south of Cumbria, Lawrence took the obvious step of settling in nicest part of the county (in our opinion, at least), the middle! Lawrence’s children have been at Grasmere School since the family’s move to Cumbria, and he and his family all enjoy running, particularly on trails and fells and are regulars at parkrun and local fell races.