St Catherine

It is said in the 6th century a hermit lived on Arment Hill, a quarter mile east of the church. People used to travel miles to seek his prayers and healing. His well is still recognisable and some of the farmers still draw water from it when they bring their children to baptism in the church stepping stones.

The River Esk is easily crossed at St Catherine's and the old stepping stones are still used by those coming to church and those walking from The King George up to Doctor Bridge, one of the best riverside walks in the area.

The position of this church is determined by both the presence of the Holy Well and the Stepping Stones, it is very ancient. Fortunately the Victorians did not spoil its simplicity when they rebuilt it. A barn, beside a river, under the mountains where the Christian God has been worshipped by generations of valley people and their visitors.

Before St Olaf’s in Wasdale received its licence to bury the dead, bodies were carried by pony and cart over the mountains and along the coffin route to St Catherine’s. On one such journey, the pony transporting a young man’s body bolted. A search was made, but neither the pony nor body was found. A few months later the young man’s mother died and she too was taken along the coffin path. The pony pulling her coffin bolted at the same location. A pony and coffin was found, but it wasn’t the mother’s; it was the son’s, lost months before. The mother’s body was never found.

The octagonal font has among its decorations ancient marigold designs found on Roman pagan alters and early Christian tombstones. The stained glass windows are worth studying. The east window depicts St Catherine, the Good Shepherd and St Cecilia. The south window portrays the Annunciation and the north window depicts the Last Supper.

The church is near to Boot village, about half a mile from Dalegarth Station at the end of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway.