St Hilda’s Church, Westward

St Hilda’s Church at Westward, Cumberland, I found rather hard to date. There was something of the gothic about it, but it was not medieval, and there was not enough for it be Victorian. Historic England dates it to the mid-1780s, and I will go along with that. A second comment offers a curious explanation regarding some damage to its fabric:

A power cable attached to the 1828 hall is pulling stone out of the north east corner, allowing further water ingress.

I saw the power cable on my visit but gave it little thought. What should have been a source of vigour and energy is actually damaging the building, and causing rainwater to enter. Strength, power, energy- call it what you will- is not always good for us. Samson was physically strong but spiritually weak; those who have their own resources seldom seek the power and provision of the Living God. Well might the apostle write:

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10, NKJV