The 2019 AT HOME was held from Wednesday 15 May – Friday 17 May. The theme was “Cumbria Scared Spaces”.

The programme included a thought-provoking and stimulating illustrated talk on the first evening given by the Revd Canon Cameron Butland (President of The Friends) who set the scene for “Cumbria’s Sacred Spaces” by explaining how we can ‘read’ the landscape by clues which our forefathers have left behind in the shape of the lie of the land and rock markings.

After the Annual General Meeting on Thursday morning, and an early lunch we set off in a minibus to Keld, a small village near Shap, where there is a tiny chapel. In olden days this was used by Monks as a place to stop and pray. It is preserved as a chapel and used for occasional services. Apart from the chapel space, there is a separate room where the monks could sleep to break their journey. It was rather dusty inside and cold but we could imagine it as a refuge where monks could be refreshed by prayer as they sheltered there.

From Keld about half the group set off to walk across the fields to Shap Abbey, a little more than a mile away, whilst the less mobile were taken by minibus. The walkers, who were challenged on their journey by a few difficult stiles, were unaware when they were approaching the abbey as it is strategically nestled into the countryside, an example of how carefully the site was chosen against fear of attack and well-placed for protection against the weather, and supplies of fresh water, wood and stone. At the well-preserved site of the Abbey, Cameron was able to show examples of some of the features which he had spoken about in his talk the night before. The minibus was driven close to the Abbey so that everyone was able to access the ruins and take part in the afternoon’s activities.

On the way back to Rydal Hall, we were invited to Cameron’s home for tea where his wife, Alison made us all very welcome. We were revived with afternoon tea – a variety of delicious cakes, colourful pieces of fruit and comfortable chairs. It was a successful visit both in interest and because as a group all were able to participate and no-one was excluded due to frailty.