of Wordsworth's literary heritage it was necessary to protect the landscape that had inspired him. The stated aim of the society was "to protect the Lake District from those injurious encroachments upon its scenery which are from time to time attempted from purely commercial or speculative motives, without regard to its claim as a national recreation ground". Besides Rawnsley, founder-members included Ruskin, Robert Browning, the Duke of Westminster and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, with whom Rawnsley had a family connection. As well as saving the landscape from insensitive development, Rawnsley and his colleagues aimed to protect rights of way and the use of common land. The new society gained support not only among local people but throughout Britain, including the cities; there was support from outside Britain, particularly from the United States. Vicar of Crosthwaite During the time the Lake District Defence Society was being formed, the Bishop of Carlisle, Harvey Goodwin, offered Rawnsley the post of vicar of St Kentigern's Church, Crosthwaite and rural dean of Keswick. Goodwin said, "In my opinion the post which I offer you is as near Heaven as anything in this world can be". Rawnsley took up the appointment in July 1883. By contrast with the tiny parish of Wray, which had a population of about 100, Crosthwaite was substantial, with not only St Kentigern's but five outlying churches in the surrounding countryside. The parish was founded in the sixth century, and there was much to appeal to Rawnsley's sense of history. He revived the traditional symbols of St Kentigern – a robin, a tree, a bell and a salmon with a ring in its mouth – incorporating them in the mosaic floor of the church. He threw himself vigorously into parish life, "friend to both landowner and boatman, tourist and local" in Griffiths's words. At the same time he continued to campaign on a large number of national issues, not only supporting conservation but opposing such practices as vivisection, rabbit coursing, the cruel trapping of animals, and what he called "murderous millinery" – the killing of birds to use their feathers in hats. "If there was a committee, he was on it; a church fete, he was opening it", commented Griffiths. One of his parishioners called him "the most active volcano in Europe". Both Murphy and Griffiths add that his reforming zeal sometimes made him "intolerably authoritarian"; his gardener referred to him as a