Church of St Cuthbert, Bellingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Cuthbert |
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View of church from the north showing the western end of the nave and its unusual stone slab roof.
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| Location | Bellingham, Northumberland |
| Built | 13th century |
| Built for | Catholic Church in England and Wales |
| Rebuilt | 1609 |
| Governing body | Church of England |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Church of St Cuthbert | |
| Designated | 10 November 1951 |
| Reference no. | 1370442 |
The Church of St Cuthbert is a very old and important church in Bellingham, Northumberland. It's owned by the Church of England. Some parts of the church are from the 1200s! It even survived attacks from fierce groups called border reivers. These groups burned down many other buildings in the village. The church has a main area called the nave, a special part for the altar called the chancel, and a big side room called a chapel. Its chancel has a unique roof made from special stone slabs. In the churchyard, you can find a tomb called the "Lang Pack." This tomb has a mysterious story linked to a nearby house.
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Exploring St Cuthbert's Church
The Church of St Cuthbert is found at the west end of Bellingham High Street. It's a bit hidden behind the Black Bull Hotel. Parts of this church are very old, dating back to the 13th century. It was lucky to survive the border reiver period. Many other old buildings in the village were burned down during these raids.
Amazing Discoveries and Old Stories
During some building work in 1861, workers found three cannonballs inside the roof! These were probably from 1597. That's when Bellingham was attacked by Walter Scott, 5th of Buccleuch.
Right next to the church is St Cuthbert's Well. People say that Cuthbert, a saint from the 600s, discovered this well. The water from the well was believed to have healing powers. The church even used it for baptisms. This special church was given important protection as a grade I listed building on November 10, 1951. This means it's a very important historic place.
How the Church is Built
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The church was rebuilt a lot in 1609 and fixed up again in 1865. That's when a small bell tower, called a bellcote, was added at the west end. The church has a main area called the nave, a special part for the altar called the chancel, and a large side room called a chapel.
The nave has six sections, called bays. Between these bays are tall, narrow windows, called lancet windows. These windows probably date back to the 1600s. On the north side, there's a shallow arched doorway with a 17th-century door. A copper lamp from the 1800s hangs above it. There was a similar doorway on the south side, but it's now blocked up.
The west end of the nave got two large stone supports, called buttresses, in the 1800s. A lancet window was put between them. Most of the other buttresses on the church are from the 1600s. The nave has a special roof shaped like a half-barrel. It's made of stone slabs and held up by 15 ribs. This roof is very special because it's made of alternating thick and thin slabs of Lakeland slate.
The chancel is from the 1200s. It has an original window on its south wall. There are three newer lancet windows at the east end. The chancel also has a 13th-century arch with two rounded edges. On the north wall, you can see memorials for Archibald Reed (from 1729) and Theresa and Harriet Charlton (from 1829). A memorial for Charlton of Redesmouth (from 1628) stands outside the south wall.
The south chapel is very big. You can get to it from the nave through a rounded arch from 1609. This chapel has a window from the 1200s and a square window from the 1600s. Its roof is also shaped like a barrel and made of stone slabs.
The Mystery of the Lang Pack
In the churchyard, you'll find a unique tombstone called the Lang Pack. It's just a few steps from the church entrance. This tomb is connected to a famous local story about Lee Hall, a nearby country house.
The Legend of Lee Hall
The story says that in the winter of 1723, the owner of Lee Hall, Colonel Ridley, went to London. He left the hall with only three servants. He told them not to let anyone in. One night, a pedlar came to the hall, asking for a place to stay. The servants said no, but they let him leave his very large pack inside.
Later that night, the servants saw the pack move! One servant shot it with a pistol. When they opened the pack, they found a man inside. He had a whistle around his neck. The servants realized he was planning to break into the hall. He would have blown the whistle to tell his friends to come once the door was open. So, the servants armed themselves, blew the whistle, and scared off the gang when they arrived.
People say the tomb at the church holds the man found in the long pack. A sign in the churchyard even calls it the "Lang Pack." This story might be true, as house break-ins were common back then. The tale is also remembered in a poem by Robert Allen, a poet from Bellingham.
