A Cumbrian vicar is set to take on a gruelling 24-hour fell walking challenge to raise money for her church’s spire repair fund.

The Rev Olivia Haines, Team Vicar in the South Lakes Mission Community, will scale Reston Scar multiple times in order to pull in the pounds for repairs needed at the historic Grade II listed St James’ church in Staveley.

In May 2025, four months after Olivia joined as the new vicar, the church congregation was forced to move out of the building after a survey discovered serious structural defects with its spire and lychgate. Services have since been held in the village school and the Roundhouse Theatre, with the repairs estimated to cost around £300,000.

Now Olivia is planning her 24-hour challenge from 11.30am on Sunday 13 September, after first leading morning worship. The 1.4-mile circular route from the church to the summit of Reston Scar includes a climb of 425 feet.

She explained: “I was driving home from Burneside one evening and the sun was setting on Reston Scar. It looked beautiful but it got me wondering how many times I could get up and down it in 24 hours. I texted a couple of friends who thought I was an idiot, my husband rolled his eyes and my churchwarden laughed nervously. But within a week it had become a thing!

“I’ve not set myself a target as to how many times I will walk up the Scar but I’m intent on seeing out the challenge. I’m a bit worried that it could get pretty boring as I’ll be seeing the same view over and over again but I know there will be plenty of people to keep me company if I need it!”

It is hoped that grants will cover the bulk of the repair costs, but the congregation still needs to raise up to £30,000 to unlock further support. So far, they have raised £4,500 locally, with a further target of £10,000 from Olivia’s 24-hour spire challenge walk.

Olivia, who moved to Cumbria in January 2025 having served her curacy in the Diocese of Lichfield, added: “The priority is to repair the spire first as at least there are other entranceways to the churchyard and the lychgate would remain cordoned off for the time being

“Both the spire and the lychgate would need to be taken down and rebuilt. The survey revealed that the whole spire is leaning but the top has a more pronounced lean; it looks a bit like a witch’s hat.

“Free-standing scaffolding will have to be put up around it and all the masonry will have to be taken down and labelled for reuse. A new frame will then have to be built before it is put back together, rather like a jigsaw. The lychgate is not as complicated because it’s not as tall but it needs stabilising with new foundations before being rebuilt.”

Teams of walkers have signed up to support Olivia and keep her company during the 24-hour trek, particularly drawing alongside her overnight. The village school hall will also remain, providing shelter and food stops.

Olivia joked: “About a month ago I spoke to my friends who I’d texted when I first came up with the idea and said that I wished they’d told me I was stupid to think of taking this on. They told me that they’d tried to but I’ve got to see it through now!”

Donations can be offered via a special JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/page/24-hour-spire-challenge.

ENDS

For further information contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Head of Communications, on 07469 153658 or at communications@carlislediocese.org.uk.