Although there is evidence that there may previously have been a wooden Saxon church on this site the present church is built on the foundations of a Norman building erected around 1100AD. Sometime during the next 80 years the church was handed over to the Prior and Convent of Hexham for religious administration. Little repair work was done, and in 1601 the church was reported as falling down. In 1723, the church was rebuilt by the Lord of the manor of Chipchase and in 1883/84 there was a major refurbishment, the church now appearing very Victorian.
Saxon grave covers, bearing the designs of crosses, swords and shears were found in the foundations during the restoration and were built into the walls of the porch that was added to the building at the same time as a vestry, tower and spire were added. Some Norman features can still be seen within the church, notably the priest’s doorway in the south wall of the chancel, the Piscina, the chancel arch and the massive bowl of the font.
The Corpus of Anglo Saxon Stone Sculpture records four Anglo Saxon cross pieces within the church, two built into the north wall of the nave, the third in the north wall of the sanctuary with the fourth in the porch. The first two are sited together next to the font - a rectangular cross shaft (undated), which sits below a circular grave marker or dedication cross from the second half of the 11th century.
The third stone, bearing an Iona Cross, is built into the north wall of the chancel. It is dated AD700 and has the inscription O E P E (Orate Pro Edmundo – Pray for Edward).
A fourth fragment sits high on a ledge in the north side of the porch, and is a round headed grave marker dating from the 11th half of the eleventh century.
Please also take time to read the nearby war memorial showing how even remote villages like this were affected by the great wars.
The cache can be found at the following location: N55 05.ABC W002 11.DEF
Where:
A = The number of letters in William E's Surname
B = The time services are held at Throckington St. Aidan
C = The first digit in the telephone number of the Rev'd
D = The last digit associated with John Smith
E = The number of letters in the first name of Mr Hutton.
F = The number of Johns who lost their lives in the first world war.
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.co.uk.
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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