A chance encounter

 

Running around Skelsmergh church in the half light, I was aware of someone coming up the path and steps from the A6 Shap Road.  On reaching him, he was out of breath, a bit plump, maybe in his early 70s. Imagine in Irish accent crossed with a bit of Northern England

• Jesus, Mary Mother of God, I thought you were a ghost, or someone risen up out of these graves.

• No, just running, and on my way home, I’m quite real

• That’s a relief. Mind, imagine if we could talk to those people! What they could tell us about the past, and what would they think of now. This is a real old church, must have lots of history.

• Oh yes, I bet this site has been used for centuries

[Chat about local countryside]

• Actually, I’m a Catholic…

• Ah, you need to go down and visit Cenacolo, the supported living community

• Ah, no, I’ve had my share of Catholic communities.
• I was sent away as a little child to the Sisters in Sligo.
• Now they were ok, but oh, the brothers.
• All that you hear about Irish Catholics, it’s all true.
• The abuse, the hardship.
• When I came to Kendal and went to school here I couldn’t believe no one hit me.
• They used to flex a cane in Sligo, and when you were hit, you were really hit.
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