Home  >  Northumberland

Category: Northumberland

October 11, 2015

Morpeth, Northumberland – St Mary the Virgin

Tuesday 8 September 2015. The coming weekend is Heritage Open Days, but the church of St Mary the Virgin in Morpeth is open every afternoon this week. I had spent a day at Diocesan House (that’s a day of my life I won’t get back), so decided to salvage something with a church explore. Brian the churchwarden, who used to direct Julie’s Monday choir, was there, made me coffee and gave me a guided tour. The Morpeth churches have a website. St Mary’s is on the south of the town at NZ196852, beside the old A1. I have driven past...
Categories Northumberland/World War 1 Comments: 4
September 18, 2015

Gunnerton, Northumberland – St Christopher

On Tuesday 1 September I went over to Gunnerton, where they have a railway club that meets in St Christopher’s Church. I had been invited to give my talk on John Wilson Carmichael, and it seems to have been well-received. Typing this blog, I thought I had better go and get the OS map to check its grid reference, then went on the church website – and the reference is given to me (NY905750). It also tells me the church is 109 metres above sea level. Pontelandstmary tells you the grid references, but does not tell you the height above sea...
Categories Northumberland/Railway History Comments: 0
September 11, 2015

Bamburgh, Northumberland – St Aidan (again)

I have been to Bamburgh on several occasions, but this was a rather special trip. The Bamburgh Research Project has been excavating at the Castle for several decades. The castle is very impressive – this is a lovely painting by my favourite artist, John Wilson Carmichael. You can look at the Castle’s website, and at the Research Project’s website – and even read their blog. They have asked if the skeletons and bones they have excavated and studied could now be re-buried in the crypt of St Aidan’s church. There are steps down into the Crypt, which is under the...
Categories Northumberland Comments: 0
September 11, 2015

North Sunderland, Northumberland – St Paul

I continued to Seahouses and found the church in North Sunderland – NU212314. A very nice little guidebook by David Donaldson gives a good history of church and parish – the parish which includes Seahouses (I assume they are actually the same place) where the harbour is now the starting point for boat trips to the Farne Islands (see our trip to Inner Farne on Midsummer Day 2011) but which has been a major grain and lime exporting point, and a centre for the herring trade. As well as a good guidebook the church has a nice tidy noticeboard...
Categories Evetts' windows/Northumberland Comments: 0
September 8, 2015

Beadnell, Northumberland – St Ebba

Tuesday 1 September was a glorious day and I had a meeting at Bamburgh. We had a lovely journey cross-country from Hexham via Rothbury, and I deposited my wife in Barter Books before I went on to the Coast. I was running a bit earlier so called in at Beadnell. I had never been into the village, and found a nice looking pub and a café, with the church opposite. The parish church of St Ebba – grid reference NU229292. Ebba was the sister of King Oswald. I’ve driven down the A68 many times on the border of Northumberland and Durham,...
Categories Evetts' windows/Northumberland/World War 1 Comments: 3
September 6, 2015

Slaley, Northumberland – St Mary the Virgin (again)

I last came to Slaley in December 2013 when Gareth (our eldest son) was in the Freeman Hospital and the world was falling apart. The World War 1 windows, and the red berries of the holly, were poignant. It was nice coming back with a bunch of friends – here we are talking about the history and the life of this church. You can read about the windows on the last blog. Back to the Vicarage for tea – thanks for an informative day (the inner man was fed intellectually, spiritually, and physically!).  
Categories Northumberland/World War 1 Comments: 0
September 6, 2015

Blanchland, Northumberland – St Mary the Virgin (again)

I visited this lovely church less than a year ago, and we have been back to an excellent Book Event organised by our favourite bookshop, Cogito in Hexham – website – they have some more of their fireside lectures planned at the Lord Crewe Arms. The White Monk Tea Room does very good food – website. Helen is the new incumbent of the church – and there are several more of her “patch” I need to visit. Look at my last blog for more information about the church. I followed Howard up to the bell chamber. And, once Lucy...
Categories Northumberland Comments: 0
September 4, 2015

Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland – St Bartholomew

A few months ago Alison White, now Bishop Alison of Hull, suggested I went to see Peter Sinclair, Vicar of Newbiggin by the Sea as a Spiritual Director. We have become good friends, and – as the day we met (Tuesday 25 August) was a gorgeous day – decided to have a walk down to have a look at his church. It stands on the promontory, parking next door, grid reference NZ317880. This website  has not been updated since 2012, but this one looks a little more current. On the front, in front of the church, is Newbiggin Maritime...
Categories Northumberland/Personal/World War 1 Comments: 4
July 25, 2015

Falstone – Methodist URC

  I went back to the Old School, and had a look at the 1897 Jubilee Fountain. There are lovely yellow irises, and the URC/Methodist church is just down the road, and also open. The chapel is at NY723875. Here is the Circuit website. It is well planned in that the chapel has a fortnightly service, on the weeks the Anglicans don’t. This is a Presbyterian church dating to 1807, with the tower added in 1876. I hate the plastic chairs, the pink paint is wonderful and what a marvellous chandelier – I want one! They have done an excellent...
Categories Northumberland/World War 1 Comments: 0
July 25, 2015

Falstone – St Peter

We don’t often drive right up to Kielder Water and this part of Northumberland, and it is a while since we have been to the Old School in the village which is now a café – website. I left Julie and went for a wander. St Peter’s church – NY724874 – is beautifully kept and the graveyard is immaculate. Bits of Saxon cross and other interesting inscriptions have been found nearby, but nothing is known of a pre-Reformation chapel. The church website  – says   “In 1650  parliamentary commissioners recommended that ‘the Chappell at Falleston be rebuilded and made the Parish Church thereof’,...
Categories Northumberland/World War 1 Comments: 0