SPIRIT IN STONE Explore more than 120 historic churches in the North East of England www.spiritinstone.info Contents Berwick-upon-Tweed The Great Story unfolds... North: North & Mid Northumberland Area 4 The churches of North East Central: Newcastle, Tyneside Kelso Belford England make our region very & Sunderland Area 10 special. Each one has a unique past and present, but together they tell West: West Northumberland North an amazing story, to inspire you & North Pennines Area 16 Alnwick whether you follow a faith or not. South: Durham & Tees Area 22 It’s the story of the Christian faith in North East England, which created such world-renowned Using This Guide Morpeth architecture as Durham Cathedral, Hexham Abbey and St Paul’s Church in Jarrow. Starting You can search for churches by area Cramlington West Blyth with the “Golden Age of Northumbria” in the 7th (see maps) or in the index (page 30). Newcastle upon Tyne century, the story records human achievement Postcodes are included to help identify Hexham South Shields and struggles down the centuries. Fabulous exact locations. Haltwhistle Central craftsmanship and industrial innovation are also We want you to enjoy our churches Sunderland celebrated and remembered in regional churches Chester-le-Street safely. Please be aware that there may large and small. be uneven steps, stone floors and dimly Durham lit interiors. So read on to discover why the North East is Hartlepool quite simply one of the best places to trace the As churches are living places of worship South development of Christian heritage in this country. for their local communities, opening Explore how our local stories have contributed times may occasionally be affected by Darlington Middlesborough special events. Times when churches to national and international life. And along the are open for worship and church or way you will also find that our churches are not community activities are generally simply about the past, but continue to make a not listed, although you will be made real contribution to local and national life. welcome to any of these. Key to symbols in guide From majestic cathedrals to smaller churches Church descriptions are brief, but fuller and chapels, today’s churches serve their descriptions, articles and details of other Churchyard communities and visitors in many different ways. churches worth exploring will be found Toilet Some offer a café, bookshop or guided tours; on our website. others offer the simplest of experiences. Some Accessible toilet www.spiritinstone.info stand amidst stunning natural beauty; others are Ramp There is no charge for this guide and the found on busy city streets. In some churches you Fully accessible for wheelchair users churches are free to enter. However a can explore by yourself; in others you will meet volunteers to help you. And if you’re looking for donation towards their upkeep will Partially accessible for wheelchair users peace and tranquillity, all the places in this guide always be greatly appreciated. Café will provide an oasis of calm and an opportunity Public transport nearby to become once again a human be-ing instead of Opening times a human do-ing. Guided tours We look forward to sharing our story with you! Keyholder Front cover picture: St Michael & All Angels, Witton Gilbert, back cover picture: St Michaels, Alnwick. 2 www.spiritinstone.info www.spiritinstone.info 3 North & Mid Northumberland 1 Berwick Holy Trinity & St Mary 4 Branxton St Paul 1 The Parade, Berwick upon Tweed TD15 1EE Branxton, Northumberland TD12 4SW Berwick-upon-Tweed Founded in 1650 www.carhamparish.org.uk and set within the Ancient sacred space and 2 historic Elizabethan historically important church Ancroft walls of Berwick, set in the heart of the Flodden Norham 8 Holy Island in England’s most Battlefield, where in 1513 the 10 northerly parish. biggest Scots army ever to invade England was defeated. A Lindisfarne Priory Etal The only church to have been built in such a 3 daylight hours 01890 820756 6 9 Lowick distinctive style during the commonwealth 4 7 of Oliver Cromwell. Bamburgh 5 Kirknewton St Gregory Kelso 5 Belford 11 9am-5pm bus & train Kirknewton, Northumberland NE71 6XF Kirknewton www.wooler.org.uk/community 2 Norham St Cuthbert ‘More to this church than meets the eye’ (Pevsner). Its Wooler Church Lane, Norham, Northd TD15 2LF treasures include a famous 12 A1 www.norhamdeanery.co.uk medieval sculpture and Large, stone-built modern art work dedicated 13 parish church to social reformer Josephine dating from 12th Butler, whose grave is in the 14 century with churchyard. Ingram Eglingham historic links to at all times & nearby bus 15 Robert the Bruce Alnwick 18 and Edward I. A697 Alnmouth Its huge churchyard contains the grave of 6 Etal St Mary the Virgin Netherton Corporal Laidlaw, the ‘Piper of Loos’, and Etal Village, Northd TD12 4TL 16 19 possibly the remains of St Ceowulf. Rothbury Built by Lady Augusta 17 21 22 Amble daylight hours bus FitzClarence as a private chapel Longframlington and burial place for her husband Lord Frederick. Set in 20 3 Carham St Cuthbert the grounds of Etal Manor. Rochester Carham, Northumberland TD12 4RW at all times 01289 388229 www.carhamparish.org.uk Stunning 7 Ford St Michael & All Angels setting on Newbiggin-by-the-Sea banks of Ford Village, Northumberland TD15 2PX Ashington 23 Tweed. A Original 13th century building restored and enlarged 24 Morpeth lovely sacred by renowned 19th century 25 space, reputed architect John Dobson. to be the Overlooks the Cheviot. site of a cell Closely associated with Belsay Cramlington established by the monastery on Lindisfarne, nearby Ford Castle and its North: North & Mid possibly by Cuthbert. owners, including Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford. Northumberland Area daylight hours daylight hours 01289 388229 4 www.spiritinstone.info www.spiritinstone.info 5 Acomb 8 Ancroft St Anne 10 Holy Island St Mary the Virgin 12 Chillingham St Peter The Lindisfarne Gospels Ancroft, Northumberland TD15 2TE Holy Island, Northumberland TD15 2RX Chillingham, Northumberland NE66 5NG Dating back to 11th www.stmarysholyisland.org.uk www.wooler.org.uk/community century. Features include Oldest building on Holy Island, 12th century building with 14th century and 16th a medieval pele tower and going back to the time of Saints century additions, restored in 1828. A highlight ne of the world’s greatest books, interesting churchyard. Aidan and Cuthbert. A place of the building is the Othe Lindisfarne Gospels has a Follow the trail quiz and of prayer and pilgrimage, with sumptuous tomb of Sir unique place in the culture and climb to the top of the beautiful art work. Ralph Grey and his wife. Christian heritage of England. The tower to see the sea. 7am-dusk or end of evening prayers Close to Chillingham cultural masterpiece was produced - nearby bus Castle. around the late 7th/early 8th century by 9am 9pm bus 01289 389216 & catering 01289 388618 10am-4pm monks of Lindisfarne Priory in honour of St Cuthbert (634-687AD). It contains the Gospels of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke 11 Bamburgh St Aidan 13 Old Bewick Holy Trinity and John, recording the life and teachings of 9 Lowick St John the Baptist Radcliffe Road, Bamburgh NE69 7AB Jesus Christ, therefore representing the core of Lowick, Northumberland TD15 2UD www.staidan-bamburgh.co.uk Old Bewick, Northumberland NE66 4DZ Christian belief. Originally a medieval chapel, now Original church founded 635 Ancient and secluded country The Lindisfarne Gospels is normally kept a large, complete Victorian Church by St Aidan. Current building in the care of the British Library in London. with an impressive hammer- beam dates from 12th century. church in tranquil surroundings. Restored in the 14th century High quality facsimile copies can be viewed wooden roof and links to the Sitwell Treasures include a shrine marking the site of at Lindisfarne Heritage Centre, Woodhorn after damage by the Scots and family. Described by visitors as Aidan’s death, a squint, a fine reredos and a Museum in Northumberland, and at St Mary & again in 17th century. ‘impressive’, ‘lovely’ and ‘peaceful’. memorial to Victorian heroine Grace Darling. St Cuthbert’s parish church, Chester-le-Street. 8.30am-7pm at all times bus, train 8.30am-dusk bus 01668 214748 16 Biddlestone RC Chapel A 14 Eglingham St Maurice Biddlestone Villas, near Netherton, Eglingham Village, Northumberland NE65 7DT Northumberland NE66 2TX www.hct.org.uk/chapels A beautiful village church with Once the private chapel of the Catholic Selby a large churchyard. Relatives family, built on the site of a pele tower adjoining Spiritual home of the of Admiral Collingwood, Biddlestone Hall (now demolished). Furnished in Nelson’s second-in-command mid-Victorian Gothic revival style. Lindisfarne Gospels at the Battle of Trafalgar, are A Historic Chapels Trust property buried here. For more information call 01665 574420 or visit website 8.30am-7pm 17 Rothbury All Saints 15 Ingram St Michael & All Angels Church St, Rothbury, Northumberland NE65 7UY Ingram, Northumberland NE66 4LT www.coquetdaleanglican.org Beautiful old church set Ancient and interesting in a large churchyard, church, called by some the sympathetically restored ‘Coquetdale Cathedral’. A peaceful sanctuary, full LINDISFARNE PRIORY in the late 19th century. An ideal place for quiet of historical information. meditation. Stained glass windows depicting our Northern Saints and heritage. For more information call: 01289 389200 www.english-heritage.org.uk 8.30am-7pm 9am-6pm bus 01669 620432 6 www.spiritinstone.info www.spiritinstone.info 7 18 Alnwick St Michael 21 Longframlington St Mary the Virgin Terms used in this guide Bailiffgate, Alnwick NE66 1LY Rothbury Road, Longframlington, Northumberland www.alnwickanglican.com NE65 8DA hurches are traditionally built on an east west axis.