Kendal's Deanery Prayer

Look graciously we pray thee O Lord upon this deanery of Kendal – the old grey town and the little villages, the ancient churches and the sacred places.

Bless all who share with us these rolling acres twixt the Kent and the Lune, those in business and the craftsmen, the farmers of the fells and the teachers of our children, the hospitaller and councillor, the tourist and the traveller; that all may feel the presence of your peace and the enjoyment of your creation; now and forever. Amen.

Parishes within Kendal

Arnside, Beetham, Burneside, Burton, Cartmel Fell, Crook, Crosscrake, Crosthwaite (Kendal), Grayrigg, Helsington, St John's, Heversham, St Peter, Holme, Kendal Holy Trinity, Kendal St George, Kendal St Thomas, Kirkby Lonsdale, Levens, Longsleddale, Milnthorpe, Natland, New Hutton, Old Hutton, Selside, Skelsmergh, Underbarrow, All Saints, Winster, Witherslack

Kendal's Deanery Profile

Kendal is a deanery of contrasts. Kendal town itself is a fairly typical urban environment. It has all the range of urban issues, both prosperous and run down areas, unemployment is beginning to be a serious issue, and in the church there is a spread of churchmanship.

In fact Kendal was chosen for an academic study of spiritual attitudes just because it is a “typical” town of the UK. By contrast the rural areas are very different. There are parts that are the home of the ex-urban off-comer, often affluent, articulate, and retired.

Often merging into these areas are the established farming communities with all-age spread, frequently with not much money, and occasionally with quite insular attitudes. However only 1% of the population is dependant on farming.

The area is large and stretches right to the summit of High Street. In fact I suspect we have as many sheep as people in the deanery. Facing the future means addressing the issue of clergy deployment.

We are currently well endowed with clergy, but I suspect numbers will fall soon with retirements, and we have to plan for that. How to team the differing strengths of the different areas so as to make a strong whole is quite a challenge. It is noticeable that the supply of Readers and NSMs tends not to be in the places where we most need them.

The future of the rural ministry in parishes that, in some cases have populations of less than 100, is a difficult problem but we cannot walk away from it and retreat to the towns.

Kendal's Deanery Contacts

Rural Dean:
The Revd Tim Harmer Sunnybank Underbarrow Kendal LA8 8HG
015395 68865

Lay Chairman:
Barbara Nelson