A place of worship was founded on the site of the present church in 635 by Saint Aidan. St Aidan was called to Bamburgh from Iona by King Oswald to establish Christianity in his newly united kingdom of Northumbria.
No trace of that wooden building can now be seen – other than perhaps a beam in the Baptistery. Tradition has it that this is the beam that St Aidan was leaning against when he died and it is said to have miraculously survived two fires.
The site of St Aidan’s death is marked by a simple shrine within the present church. The church building that is now seen dates from the end of the 12th century.
This parish church has been a focus of pilgrimage over the centuries and modern day visitors and pilgrims are very welcome.
As well as being the Apostle of Northumbria, Aidan is rightly regarded as the Apostle of England. This parish church is therefore not only the “mother church” of the modern dayDiocese of Newcastle but also central to the history of Christianity in this land.
The church works closely with the Grace Darling Museum, just across the road, and both in the church and in the churchyard memorials to the Victorian heroine can be found.
I like their castle-like belfry.
Quite unusual.
It is rather interesting isn’t it?
The bench in the third . . . one to rest a while with you? : )
Yes I would enjoy that