Birds of Upper Swaledale Guided Walk

 

Birds of Upper Swaledale Guided Walk - Saturday 11th May 2013

 

A Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre Event

 

10.00 - 12.30 and 13.30 - 16.00

Spend a full or half day with knowledgeable guide, Revd Dr David Peel, observing birds in their moorland, woodland & river habitats.  Please bring binoculars.  Sorry no dogs or children under 8 years old.  Full day £5, half day £3, children free.

Booking advisable. 

Contact Glenda Calvert on tel. 01748 886845 or email glenda_calvert@hotmail.co.uk 

or visit www.tkrc.org.uk

 

There are still places available for this event.

 

 

 

 

Ministers in Residence in The Manse

Five times a year, for a period of one week, a 'Minister-in-Residence' is present in The Manse.  During this time The Manse reverts to its original use and becomes the minister's home.  Whilst in residence the visiting minister takes the Sunday service in the chapel and usually holds prayers during the week.  They bring with them their own unique style of communication as a way of reaching all sectors of our community; residents, walkers, campers, holiday makers, day trippers.

This Easter (31st March to 5th April 2013), retired Methodist Minister, Rev Mike Harrison and his wife Jan, from Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria were our Minister in Residence and here is a short account of their stay.

Rev Mike and Mrs Jan Harrison accepted the invitation to be 'in residence' in the Keld Manse during Easter Week.  What could not be anticipated was weather conditions more typical of Christmas than Easter, with drifting snow and a bitter east wind.  Some possible activities, such as meeting and greeting whilst sitting on the seat in the front garden of The Manse, were not to be recommended!  Walkers were understandably thin on the ground and those braving the elements were not necessarily going to stand around and chat.

We set up some material in the chapel, inviting reflection and prayer requests (see photograph).  Visitors were invited to reflect on 'Image' and 'Future', and to leave prayer requests for healing and wholeness.  Some did leave requests and these were included in our morning and evening prayers in chapel throughout the week.

We spent time during the week getting to know some of the local folk and meeting and praying with members of the Christian community in their own homes - a joy and privilege.

The adverse weather conditions served to highlight the difficulties regularly faced and overcome by the local community - especially those who farm - and demonstrated what a determined and resilient community this is.  We shall not forget the beauty and spirituality of the place, and the warmth and friendship of the community.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Keld Chapel

In 1789 a young itinerant preacher called Edward Stillman walked into the ruins of an earlier chapel in Keld, then - as now - a remote hamlet at the head of Swaledale.  At the centre of the weeds and rubble, he planted his stick with the words: 'Here will I have my chapel and here will I preach the Gospel.'

The chapel, with two adjoining rooms (one for living; one for teaching) was built.  It cost £700.  Stillman raised the money himself by walking from Keld to London asking for contributions on the way.  He did the journey again in 1818 to pay for the rebuilding of the chapel, by then too small for its congregation.  He ministered in Keld for 48 years until his death in 1837.

The buildings have been altered and enlarged several times since then and a minister's house was added.  The chapel and manse took their present form in 1861.  These were the heyday of the lead mining industry; in 1851 there were more than 1100 miners in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.

Independancy (later known as Congrgationalism) became established in Swaledale in the mid 17th Century, when persecution of nonconformists was at its height.  It was under the protection of Philip, Lord Wharton of Kirkby Stephen, some ten miles away in today's Cumbria.  The chapel in neighbouring Low Row, for example, dates from 1689 when he donated land on his estate at Smarber for a chapel building, the ruins of which can still be seen on the hillside above the village.

Keld Chapel proudly stands in this tradition.

A Wedding in Keld

 At 2 p.m. on Easter Saturday Peter and Julie from Durham got married in Keld Chapel.

It was a white wedding in more than one sense of the word as the surrounding hills were solid with snow.  The sun shone  brightly making it the perfect backdrop for Peter and Julie's wedding.









Here comes the bride with her father and bridesmaid.

The Chapel was beautifully decorated in shades of purple, mauve and white.

The happy couple.
Congratulations to you both. 

Keld Well-being Garden

Created from a piece of waste ground near the Chapel and with help from the BIG Lottery Fund, the well-being garden is now entering its third growing season.  The garden is very natural and not a formal garden in the sense of herbaceous borders, trellises and baskets.  The garden celebrates the wild flowers of Keld and is at its best in June and July when the Ox-Eye Daisies are in flower.

The theme of the garden as the name suggests is 'well being'.  It is a place to sit and contemplate and enjoy the splendid views towards Kisdon Hill.  Entry to the garden is via  the Chapel Yard.  Look closely at the mosses and lichens that cover the dry stone walls, these are often overlooked as we search for more showy flowers but have their own beauty and interest.  Throughout spring and summer the garden is also a great place to watch the House Martins as they swoop and dive in search of insects.

Snowbound

 There is a big drift in The Manse garden.  Impossible to get into the churchyard through the little gate as it is covered in snow and a branch from the tree has come down in the wind.

I will have to persuade the oil delivery man to climb over the wall!!

Looking back up the village. 
This is the only route in and out at the moment and that is thanks to the local farmer who clears the road with his tractor bucket.

Snowbound

The snow in front of the Countryside & Heritage Centre is deeper than it looks.  Visitors beware; bring your wellies!  

A bleak, colourless day for March (this is not a black & white photograph)