St Matthew's Church, Dendron

St Matthew's Church at Dendron in the Furness district of Cumbria is hard to date. Online sources suggest it dates to the 1640s when a Londoner provided the funds for its construction. I venture that the nave is Georgian though the tower is possibly from that period (which I still doubt). Curiously, George Fox, that inveterate Quaker organiser and teacher came here to preach in 1652, nothing that “no priest has ever preached here”. ‘Priest’ was his dismissive term for paid clergy rather than a tacit acknowledgement of priestly function, though he was right to lace it with irony seeing as even the godly Commonwealth failed to provide the farmers and labourers of Dendron with a regular ministry of the word. If Fox is to be believed, (though I daresay that there must have been occasional sermons) the people had a decade and more without the biblical teaching. It warranted its own, poorly paid clergyman as late as 1671, thirty years after its construction.

Curiously, a yellow sign attached to its door advises of danger, forbidding entry. More dangerous than a dodgy roof or wobbly wall is a church with no decent preaching ministry. 'Decent' does not here refer to eloquence, or a profusion of PowerPoint slides, nor even sincerity and good will. Decent preaching explains and expounds the scriptures, no more and no less. To attend a place where that does not happen is dangerous.

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21

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