St Andrew’s Church is set in a stunning location in Stonethwaite in the Borrowdale valley. It is a very simple, white rough-cast building with a roof of local slate. The monks of Furness Abbey developed mining and farming interests in the locality in medieval times. The Church was consecrated in 1687 and has been restored and enlarged since then
When the Haweswater reservoir was built the pulpit from Mardale Church was brought to St Andrew’s Church in 1937.
The Churchyard contains the gravestones of two very local characters – Sarah Youdale who lived to be 100 years old but who never left the valley and Bob Graham the well known marathon fell runner. His tombstone records his greatest run – 42 summits, 32,000 feet of ascent covering 130 miles in 23 hours and 39 minutes. . . . . .
St Andrew’s Church was mentioned by Sir Hugh Walpole in his writings – he sometimes worshipped there.
