Ewecross Deanery
Ewecross Deanery is a modern creation, coming into existence with the formation of the Diocese of Bradford in 1920. But the name Ewecross is ancient, the Ewe referring not to sheep but to the Yew tree and an ancient preaching cross erected either by the Celtic church in Romano-British times, or else in Anglo-Saxon times probably at Bentham, St John where it may have been the place of meeting for the local clans and a clashing of weapons, ‘the wapentake’.
The deanery of Ewecross has a population of over 11,000 people and stretches from Sedbergh in the north to Bentham in the south, from Burton-in-Lonsdale in the west to Austwick in the east (although an eighteenth century map shows the area stretching as far as Penyghent).
Originally the deanery was made up of some fourteen separate parishes each with its own vicar or rector and consisted of nineteen worshipping communities, but now the deanery has six clergy and the parishes are grouped into six benefices each seeking to serve its local community.
The deanery is composed mainly of hill farms and fells; but boasts two of the famous three peaks: Ingleborough and Wernside, together with many pot holes including the famous Gaping Gill plus caves and waterfalls. The river Lune rises in the north and its tributaries the Greta and Wenning serve the southern part of the deanery. Its largest town is Sedbergh with its distinguished public school and its most industrialised community is High Bentham. The Christian witness of the Methodists is strong
and we have a small Roman Catholic presence and in addition we host the origins of the Quaker movement at Fox’s pulpit and Brigflatts.
The Epiphany, Austwick
St John the Baptist ,Low Bentham
St Margaret ,High Bentham
St James, Clapham
St Andrew, Dent with Cowgill
St John THe Evangelist, FIrbank
Holy Trinity, Howgill
All Saints, Killington