Brigflatts Quaker Meeting House and two Dales churches

This walk incorporates a visit to Brigflatts Quaker Meeting House near Sedbergh, and visits to the Anglican churches of Sedbergh and Dent.

Brigflatts occupies a significant position in Quaker heritage. In 1652 George Fox, founder of the Religious Society of Friends, visited the hamlet while journeying North in his search for truth and there made contact with the Westmorland Seekers. During his visit Fox went on to preach in the nearby churchyard of Sedbergh Church and addressed a large open-air meeting of seekers, speaking from a crag on the fellside now known as Fox’s Pulpit. This event is widely seen as the start of the Quaker movement. Fox settled a permanent meeting at Brigflatts later the same year and the Meeting House was built in 1675.

The walk to Brigflatts starts from St Andrew’s Church in Sedbergh, using lanes and public footpaths across fields to the Meeting House. The distance is 1.4 miles, across flat terrain with good views. The Meeting House warden will meet us at Brigflatts at 11.00 to welcome us and give a brief introduction to the site before leaving us to our photography. In addition to the house itself with its lime washed walls and impressive interior woodwork and gallery, we will visit the garden, orchard and burial ground.

After our visit we will be taken back to Sedbergh by car (driven by a locally arranged helper) where we can find lunch (lots of options - for discussion on the day). In the afternoon we will visit St Andrews Church Sedbergh, where Fox preached during his 1652 visit. The church is a site of religious significance in its own right. It is the oldest building in the town, dating from 1130 with further 16th Century features.

As a final bonus and if time permits, there is an opportunity to visit Dent Church by taking a scenic 5-mile drive through Dentdale. The location of the 12th Century church (rebuilt in the 15th Century) is very picturesque, set against the slopes of the fells, and Dent village has quaint cottages, cobbled streets and alleyways, as well as some very welcoming teashops. We can either car share for this or travel independently.

All sites have given permission for our photography.