Saxon and Norman churches in Northumbria
 

We have spent a couple of holidays in Durham and Northumberland, mainly visiting some of the lovely old churches.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...rth/index.html

Northumbria was the centre of Christianity in the C7th with Cuthbert, Aidan and Bede. Many of the churches are Saxon foundations and still contain Saxon work. There is the Saxon crypt in Hexham Abbey
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ham/index.html.

The tiny church at Escomb in County Durham is possibly the best example of a Saxon church in England and is one of the oldest churches still in regular use.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...omb/index.html

St Andrews Church in Bywell has a splendid Saxon tower
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...rew/index.html

Corbridge church has a Saxon arch beneath the tower made from reused Roman stones.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...dge/index.html

Durham Cathedral, the burial place of Cuthbert and Bede must be one of the best examples of Norman architecture in the country.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ral/index.html

On a smaller scale is the lovely Norman church at Norham.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ham/index.html

Wonderful. Thanks.

Thanks so much. Ralph Neville was my ancestor and I enjoyed looking at all these ancient churches.

You missed St Paul's in Jarrow, and St Peters in Sunderland both strongly associated with the Venerable Bede.

"You missed St Paul's in Jarrow, and St Peters in Sunderland both strongly associated with the Venerable Bede."

We visited these a few years back and you are right, they are lovely churches. We didn't have time to fit them in this vist. Another time hopefully.

Interesting visits you are making to Saxon chapels.
Yes, Durham Cathedral and Hexham Abbey (hexham-abbey.org.uk)

In England some years ago DW wanted to find a pre-Norman church built in the Saxon period. St. Gregorys Minster, Kirkdale, is near a stream. Here's a thorough history about this lovely chapel: http://www.ormerod.uk.net/Places/Kir...cekirkdale.htm
One part is very old and the added part as well.
In front is an ancient sundial. Inside is an old baptistry.

What we found was that Saxon churches are built near streams and wooded areas instead of on top of a hill with a steeple
...a different idea about being close to God.

Kirkdale Minster is an absolute gem. We've visited but I've yet to write that up, although I did write a reviews here:
http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/R...pProductReview

Nearby is Ellerburn which is a similar date to St Gregory's but as yet undiscovered by visitors.
http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/R...pProductReview

There are a lot of interesting old churches in the East Riding of Yorkshire, many with splendid Norman carved fonts. Again I've still to write those up.

dotheboyshall ticked me off for not including St Paul's Church in Jarrow or St Peter's Church in Monkwearmouth. I've been going through all our old slides recently and found pictures of both churches taken in 1982 which I have now added to the website....
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...row/index.html

http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...uth/index.html

They are still on my list of churches to visit.

Following on the Saxon theme, I also found pictures taken during the excavation of the Saxon graveyard at St Peter's Church, Barton-upon-Humber in 1985 and have also added them here:
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ter/index.html

churches with steeples on top of hills, before lightening conductors were discovered.....