Helsington Church

Last day of the family staying with us. The drizzle ended by 11a.m. and we were able to walk from Sizergh Castle to Brigsteer and then back via St. John’s Church, Helsington.

The Church was built in 1726. It is high on a limestone scar with superb views. It seems very isolated from the rural communities which it served. But it is very near the farm, the owner of which provided the funds to build it.

There are some interesting features in the church principally a mural painted at the east end in 1919 just after the 1st world war by Miss Saumarez. The mural is effectively a war memorial reflecting the post war desolation in borrowing from the view outside to depict a scene of mountains, the river and sea and kneeling angels in prayer.