Hexham Abbey facts for kids
Hexham Abbey is a very old and important Anglican church located in Hexham, a town in Northumberland, England. It is dedicated to Saint Andrew. For hundreds of years, since 1537, it has served as the main church for the people of Hexham.
Long ago, during Saxon times, Hexham Abbey was even a cathedral. Today, it is part of the Diocese of Newcastle. This diocese covers the historic county of Northumberland in northeast England.
Contents
History of Hexham Abbey
There has been a church on this special site for over 1300 years! The story began around 674 AD. That's when Etheldreda, who was the Queen of Northumbria, gave land for a church to be built here.
Building the First Abbey
The first abbey was built by Benedictine monks. They used stones from old Roman ruins nearby to construct it. You can still see parts of this ancient building today. For example, the Saxon crypt, which is an underground room, is still there. Also, a special stone chair called a frith stool, or 'cathedra', from the 7th or 8th century, can be seen.
Challenges and Rebuilding
In the year 875, a group called the Danes attacked the Tyneside area. Hexham Church was sadly robbed and burned down. It lay in ruins for a long time.
Around the year 1050, a person named Eilaf was asked to rebuild the church. His son, Eilaf II, finished the work. They likely built the new church in the Norman style.
The Augustinian Priory
Later, during Norman times, the old abbey was replaced. A new Augustinian priory was built in its place. The church you see today mostly comes from this period, between about 1170 and 1250. It was built in the Early English Gothic style. The choir, the north and south transepts (parts of the church that stick out like arms), and the cloisters (covered walkways) are from this time.
Modern Restoration Work
Over the years, parts of the Abbey have been rebuilt and restored. The east end was rebuilt in 1860. Around 1900, a huge project began to rebuild much of the rest of the Abbey. This included rebuilding the nave, which is the main part of the church where people sit. Some of the walls of the nave still contain parts of the earlier church. The rebuilt nave was officially opened again in 1908.
More recently, in 1996, a new chapel was created. It is called St Wilfrid's Chapel. This chapel offers a quiet place for people to pray or simply reflect.
Images for kids
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Inside Hexham Abbey
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The Choir in 2019
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Atkinson memorial with list of clerics
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Tombstone of Flavinus, Roman standard-bearer
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The organ of 1974
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