Waverton, Cumberland

Waverton
Cumberland
Christ Church, Waverton
Location
Grid reference:	NY2241547466
Location:	54°48’54"N, 3°12’43"W
Data
Population:	306  (2011)
Post town:	Wigton
Postcode:	CA7
Dialling code:	01697
Local Government
Council:	Cumberland
Parliamentary constituency:	Workington

Waverton is a linear village in Cumberland, on the main A596 road east of a bridge over the River Waver, two miles south-west of Wigton and 14 miles from the nearest city, Carlisle.

The river is believed to be the origin of Waverton's name, with the Old English tun added (which means a farmstead, village or estate.

History

Waverton was originally a township in the Parish of Wigton. Its history is mainly focused around the agriculture industry and the Christ Church, located in what was previously known as the township.

Waverton's church, known as Christ Church, was built in 1865 and completed on 6 May. It was built in a Victorian Perpendicular High Church style as a chapel-of-ease. Christ Church became the parish church for the newly formed Waverton-cum-Dundraw parish in 1902.

Tradition has it that St Patrick evangelised near the crossroads before moving on to Aspatria.

The church houses fittings from the former Dundraw Mission Church (which stopped being as a place of worship in 1965) including its altar, which was carved by the vicar of the day, and a font. A new war memorial (also from Dundraw) was installed in 2007.

Christ Church now is described as a "modest village church". It runs weekly regular services, with other events in between such as book sales, pancake day and bank holidays services being a few of them. There is also the Harvest Festival and Plough Sunday have been created to celebrate the mainly agricultural community environment.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Waverton, Cumberland)

• A 1901 description of Waverton