Church of St Michael, Alnham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael’s Church, Alnham |
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St Michael’s Church, Alnham
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| 55°23′33.99″N 2°00′57.3″W / 55.3927750°N 2.015917°W | |
| Location | Castle Hill, Alnham, Northumberland NE66 4TL |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8039/ |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Upper Coquetdale |
| Deanery | Alnwick |
| Archdeaconry | Lindisfarne |
| Diocese | Diocese of Newcastle |
The Church of St Michael in Alnham, Northumberland, is a very old church. It was built around the year 1200. This church stands on the site of an ancient Roman camp.
The church is mentioned in official records from 1291. Today, it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
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The Alnham Area
The Alnham area is in the northwest part of Northumberland. The small village of Alnham is only about 8 miles from the border with Scotland.
Long ago, in 1650, records show that the church was a "Viccaridge." This means it had a vicar, who was a type of priest. The Earl of Northumberland was the patron, or supporter, of the church.
The church also had "Gleeb Land," which was land belonging to the vicarage. In 1663, it was noted that the vicarage house was an old, ruined tower. The church's official records, called the parish register, started in 1688.
Where the Church Stands
The Church of St Michael is built on the spot where a small Roman camp once stood. This camp was likely a guard post for Roman soldiers. They would have protected cattle grazing in the rich fields near the river Aln.
The church itself is built in a style called Transitional-style. It is located in a countryside area close to where the River Aln begins.
Near the church, you can see the remains of an old castle. There is also a pele tower, which was a small fortified house. This tower was later used as the vicarage house. The church is built on a gentle slope.
A Look at History
The church's walls show how old it is, dating back to around 1200. However, there are not many records from its very early days. Most old churches like this were built by the wealthy landowners of the area.
Towards the end of the 1100s, a man named William de Vesci gave Alnham Church to the monks of Alnwick Abbey. This happened in 1184, and it's the first time the church is mentioned in writing. The church's building style matches this time period.
It seems the monks might have rebuilt or improved the church. This was a common practice for them. In 1291, a tax record called the Taxatio Ecclesiastica valued Alnham Rectory at £31. Later, in 1340, its value was £37 13s. 4d.
By the early 1500s, during the time of Henry VIII, the church was valued at £3 7s. It was still valued the same during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In 1597, Henry, the ninth Earl of Northumberland, mentioned the church in a document. This document was for Thomas Percy, who was involved in the Gunpowder Plot.
The church is dedicated to St. Michael. He was a very popular saint in northern Northumberland. There are at least eight churches in the area named after him.
Church Design and Features
The Church of St Michael looks like it was built around 1200. However, some parts are even older, like the Saxon quoins in the nave. Quoins are special stones used at the corners of buildings.
The church was built in a style popular in the mid-1300s, during the time of Edward III. Some of its windows, though, are newer.
The church has a bell-cot, which is a small structure for a bell. It also has a lower chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is. There is a porch at the entrance and an arcade with three sections inside.
In the past, the church had a north aisle, which is a side section. It also has north and south transepts, which are parts that stick out from the main building. Only the south transept is from the original church. The north transept was once used as a Sunday school.
The chancel has a special arch called a Transitional arch. There are four strong supports, called buttresses, at the west end of the church. There are also two on the north and south sides. Some of the very old windows are still there. However, in the 1700s, some people added modern sash windows, which changed the church's original look. A strong new roof was added around 1840.
Restoration Work
In 1862, the church was in poor condition. Its door was wobbly, and the walls were damp and moldy. The windows were old and rotten, letting in wind and rain. The east end had a small, plain window, like one you might see in a utility room.
Inside, some of the pews were square, with a table in the middle. Another pew formed three sides of a square around a stove. There was a lot of fungus, and the floor was wet. People thought the church would soon fall apart if nothing was done.
In 1870, the church was carefully restored. An architect named F. R. Wilson from Alnwick oversaw the work. The bell-cot, which had been moved, was put back on the west gable. The old sash windows were replaced with new ones that matched the church's original style. New seating was added in the nave, and special stalls were put in the chancel. Restoration and repair work continued into the 1900s and 2000s.
Inside the Church
The communion plate, used for church services, has four pieces: a cup, a paten (a small plate), a flagon (a jug), and a brass alms dish. The small, round font, used for baptisms, dates back to 1664. It has special symbols that link it to the Percy family, who were important in the area.
On the chancel floor, there are old tomb slabs. The church bell has "Alnham, Nov. 1759" written on it. Inside the church and in the churchyard, there are several memorial tablets and gravestones. One tablet remembers the Collingwood family, who were once very important in the area.
