Eden Valley Messenger

TOURISM AWARD FOR FARMERS’ MARKET CHURCH

SHOPPERS at Orton’s Farmers’ Market are regulars at the coffee mornings held in the village church on market days – now the congregation at All Saints Church are to receive an award for their visitor welcome.

The Right Reverend James Newcombe, Bishop of Carlisle, will be at All Saints Church, Orton on Saturday, December 12 at 10am to present the special award to members of the congregation.

The Eden church has been given a glowing commendation by assessors for the prestigious Marque of Excellence, an award made by the North West Multi-Faith Tourism Association.

The citation for the Marque reads: “All Saints Parish Church, Orton is an outstanding example of how a church, local community and wider community can work together to support and develop the local visitor economy.”

Reverend Beverley Lock of All Saints Church said: “The commendation particularly mentioned our accessibility and the commitment of parishioners to providing a warm welcome to visitors.

“Members of the congregation serve coffee in church on Farmers’ Market day and also have a second hand bookstall and other bric a brac for browsing.  We can attract up to 250 visitors on a busy market day. We were very pleased at the way the assessor commented on the way that we balance being open to the community without compromising on the integrity of the church or the sense of a sacred space.”

Steve Dunning, a parish councillor and local farmer is one of the Directors of Orton Farmers’ Market said: “We have lots of regular customers on the Market who travel up to Orton especially for a day out on the second Saturday. 

“They buy from the Market, have a coffee in Church and often meet up with other regular visitors.  I know that there is at least one Market customer who brings a donation of books with him each month and then buys more in Church to take home.

“What the Church has done definitely adds to the feel of a village community that works together and welcomes visitors – I am delighted that this is being recognised with the Marque of Excellence award.”

The award came about as a result of a talk given at neighbouring Tebay church by Malcolm Stonestreet of the North West Multi-Faith Tourism Association.  David Aspden, a member of the PCC at All Saints, attended this and then invited an assessor to visit Orton and the Farmers’ Market to see what the church was doing.

David said: “The assessor came along in the summer and he was very impressed.  We heard that we had won the Marque in October and we are looking forward to welcoming the Bishop to see for himself in December.  He’ll also have an opportunity to enjoy some of the mince pies and carol singing that are a feature of our Christmas Market day.”