The Northern Vicar Blog

A morning round the bookshops of Hexham – I like The Creamy Coffee Pot’s fruit scones – and we returned home via Warden. It’s a small community just north west of the splitting of the two Tynes (North and South) – I think the word I want is “confluence”, but it is many years since I got half a Geography degree (if anyone leaves a comment about “colouring in” I will be most upset!). Lovely view of the church as you come across the A69, over the South Tyne, right under the railway, and to the church at NY914665....

Elaine (who visited Warkworth with us) was back North – and we had a drive out. Holy Trinity, Cambo (NZ026858) stands just off the main road. It’s part of the Benefice of Kirkwhelpington, Kirkharle, Kirkheaton and Cambo – so close to home, but this is only the second I’ve done. A very nice leaflet tells you about the church and our faith. I have just found some photos of the church at www.peterloud.co.uk/photos/Northumberland/Cambo/Cambo.html and am about to give up photography and go back to chasing trains! There was a medieval chapel here, standing slightly to the east of the current...

Locked churches depress me, but it was a glorious day – too glorious just to head home via the A1. So we turned right onto the B6525, and there was a brown “church” sign as we entered the hamlet of Ancroft – NU003452. And what a fascinating church. Pevsner tells me that the west half of the Nave is Norman, and the Tower is a 13th century Vicar’s Pele – roughly the same date as Ponteland’s Pele Tower (but they didn’t build that onto the church). Fascinating doors, and a sundial. Inside was simple. At the west end, they...

We drove south from Tweedmouth through Spittal – but if the ecclesiastical building on the left was St John’s church there is no way of telling – and then up, under the railway, and followed the old A1 south through Scremerston. NU007494. Pevsner dismisses the 1842 church of St Peter in two lines – perhaps he couldn’t get in either. The door is rather interesting – bet they had a job getting that made:

It was a beautiful day – though the weather forecast for the rest of the country is snow – so we drove to the far North. We have never had a proper look round Berwick – and it is a lovely town. We started in Doolally (under the Town Hall) – look at the size of those tea cakes. They also do Haggis Toasted Sandwiches – you can tell we’re near the border. Then I left Julie and went for a wander down to the river, Pevsner in hand. Royal Border Bridge by Robert Stephenson, 1847-50. Another latte later...

I should have said that I was walking round Warkworth with Elaine. (Julie, my better half, doesn’t walk too well, so tends to find a convenient cafe, or at least a convenient seat, while I go off exploring). Elaine – up from the south – bought the Guidebook and gave me the guided tour. Thank you (he says), reading the Guidebook which you paid for and I “borrowed”. We spotted the doorway leading up to the room above the porch – home of the Curate. (Having had a break-in at St Mary’s this week, perhaps I should go back...