St. Olaf's Church

The church was built around 1550,and restored in 1892,prior to the restoration the floor would have been earthen and there would have been no windows or even seating. St.Olaf's is the smallest church in England near the deepest lake in England,Wastwater and next to the Highest mountain in England,Scafell Pike. The churchyard has many graves of climbers who died on the surrounding fells,The church stands amongst ancient Yew trees in Viking fields,it is said that the church roof timbers are made from Viking ships,the original inhabitants of Wasdale were certainly of Viking descent. The churchyard was consecrated in 1901,prior to this date the dead of the parish would have been carried by pack horse across Burnmoor to the village of Boot for burial. The church is named after the Viking king Olaf who had repented and turned to Christianity late in life.