The Northern Vicar Blog

It was a beautiful spring day. I had been at Newcastle Crematorium for yet another funeral – OK, OK … I’d hardly have been there for a wedding – but the rest of the day was free, and I had to be in Alnwick that evening for Baliffgate Singers. “Hang spring cleaning” I said, and drove north up the A1, destination Howick Hall. As I came round the corner at NU205143 Denwick Chapel and its aconites were stunning. The chapel is part of the parish of Alnwick St Michael and has a service once a month. Pevsner says it...

I visited St Mary Magdalene (NZ131844) back in December when the snow was deep and the church locked. On Saturday 12 February 2011 I had another go. First thing to photo was the one-handed clock.         Second thing was the Whalton Jesus – it is quite stunning. I wonder if everyone in the village in 2000 is included, and how many refused. The church is quite dark – this next photo I used the apple’s power to enhance. There are a few memorials to various members of the Ogle family – and some rather nice carving on...

Back in the depths of winter we had driven the road from Belsay Castle across Ingoe Moor (top photo is looking north at about NZ041762) and came to All Saints’ church at Ryal (NZ016742). It is in the middle of a small hamlet, and the church was – understandably – locked. I did photo these rather interesting stones by the door. On Saturday 22 January, on the way back from a Barrasford lunch, we stopped – and the church was open. Entering the church and looking east, it’s a lovely little stone-built church – a twelfth century chapel of...

I am sorry it has taken me so long to blog. On Saturday 22 January we went out for a drive and at the end of a “no through road” I suggested we pulled into the side of the road so I could see if there is a church in Kirkheaton – you can tell I plan this blog! A tiny little village with a few houses round the Green, including the rather impressive Manor House. A friendly notice said “to the church” and St Bartholomew’s was open – NZ019774. There was a church on the site in 1298;...

I’d fought my way into Newcastle as the girls wanted to shop, then headed west along the A69. South to Ovingham where I parked by the church – NZ085636. I ambled down to the bridge – www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/ovingham.html – which is a very rickety bridge. Built in 1883, I’m surprised it is still holding together. Apparently it has had a 10 mph speed restriction for the last 40 years. I didn’t walk right across to Prudhoe station – we’ll deal with that when we do the church and castle. Looking at an old map – www.disused-stations.org.uk/p/prudhoe/index.shtml – Prudhoe Colliery was rather...

On the Feast of Stephen (which this year fell on a Sunday) I had a turkey sandwich for lunch and then drove to Chollerford and parked by “The George”. The North Tyne was frozen, and it looked gorgeous. The bridge replaced one destroyed by a flood in 1771 – more information at www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/chollro.html – this is a marvellous website, and it tells me that “literary giants W.H. Auden and John Steinbeck” have stayed at the George – one day they will add the line that “literary blogging giant Peter parked his car here”. I am (very slowly) walking Hadrian’s Wall,...

The snow is almost gone, but we’re all getting fed up of grotty weather. I spent an hour and a half singing carols at Waitrose in the morning and was climbing the walls by late afternoon. I needed out! We drove to the neighbouring village of Stamfordham. It has a population of about 1,000, a school, two churches, two pubs, a nice village green with lock-up, even a bus depot – but no shop or post office. St Mary’s church (NZ076720) has a website http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/stamfmatfenchurches/ and is open at 3 pm on a dark December Saturday. Please don’t expect brilliant...

The snow which started on Wednesday 23 November is still lying deep on Tuesday 7 December. We were supposed to be in the Lakes today seeing friends Joyce, Ye Min and Clare who are over here from Singapore, but that was not possible. Instead I got dragged round Newcastle shops. Having done that we needed lunch. We drove up the main road to Belsay, then across to Whalton. I like the “Beresford Arms” and have eaten there on several occasions. The snow meant that the three of us were their only lunchtime customers – and apparently all their evening...

“Oswald set up the sign of the holy cross and, kneeling down, prayed God to send his heavenly aid to those who trusted in him in their dire need. This place is pointed out to this day and held in great veneration. It is said that, when the cross had been hurriedly made and the hole dug in which it was to stand, the devout king with ardent faith seized the cross and placed it in position himself, holding it upright with his own hands until the soldiers had heaped up sufficient earth so that it stood firm. This...