The church was built in 1220, although it is believed that the present building was erected on the site of an earlier wooden structure probably of Saxon origin. The original stone building consisted of the present tower, with its spire, a nave without aisles and a chancel. Of this structure nothing now remains except the tower and the chancel arch.
Additions were made to the building shortly after its completion, and before the middle of the 13th century the present aisles were added. The porch was built at the same time, though at some later date the roof of the porch was lowered. This alteration can be seen in the present building. Evidence of the original nave is very marked at the west or tower end of the church. The tower and spire, while forming the most striking feature of the building are of an extremely interesting design. Formally, the south aisle was occupied by a chantry, the alter of which was surmounted by a string of dog tooth mouldings, part of which has been restored.
The belfry contains two bells, one of which is inscribed as follows: D.H.D.R. I.H.S. MARIA S. ANDREAS A.D. MCCCCCXXXVI. CATBERT THOMPSON EDWARD SEHAM MER.MT. IAW.
The east wall of the tower is an earlier part and the west wall of an aisles church, in the north and south walls of which were built arcades. Some time afterwards the aisles were extended so as to include the tower part of the church. The spire, of which there are only five others in the country, is built entirely of stone, whereas the usual construction of that period was in timber and lead. It is formed of triangular facets sloping downwards instead of the ordinary pyramid shape.
In the vestry of the church there is a model of the spire in the form of an inkstand. The chancel has largely been rebuilt and during the restoration, a piscine was removed from the church which had been presented by the late W. Scott of Sunderland and is now in the Castle chapel, but a double piscine remains. The church was closed for nearly 12 months from 1875 to 1876. the whole roof of the church was repaired, the three north windows of the chancel were replaced by stone mullions and plate glass.
The flat plaster ceiling of the chancel was taken down and the old sash windows at the west end of the church were replaced with new windows of a style better suited to the rest of the tower. The total cost of the alterations was £1700.
There are two effigies of priests, one is in the chancel and one in the south aisle. There is also a tomb belonging to the Hyltons.
During the excavations for the boiler house, two stone coffins were found and can be seen at the side of the path leading to the door of the church. The sundial above the porch was made by R.E,Emmerson, the parish clerk, and son of the mathematician Wm. Emmerson of Hurworth.
The inscription on the sundial reads : Hic sciathurieus erectum fuit pro commodo Hujus ecclesiae. A.D.1992 Lux umbra Dei.
The rose window at the east end of the church was installed in memory of Reverend E.Graham, a former rector. The othe window was installed earlier in 1815.
In 1906, a fire occurred in the old church, caused by overheating in the boiler house which was sited under the organ loft. Fortunately the fire was prevented from spreading by the local volunteer Fire Brigade , otherwise the whole church would have been destroyed.
This is a Multi Cache. Please visit the church notice board and obtain the required numbers to work out the coordibates for the cache.
The cache is hidden at:
N54 56.ABC
W001 26.DEF
A - The 1st digit of the phone number for the Ven. Stuart Bain.
B - 1st Sunday Evensong starts at ? pm.
C - The 4th digit of the phone number for the Revd Canon Raymond Dick.
D - the 3rd digit of the phone number you need to arrange a baptism or wedding.
E - The 4th digit plus the 5th digit of the phone number for the Ven. Stuart Bain.
F - The 7th digit of the phone number for the Ven. Okwunna Nwogu.
Checksum is 32.
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.com.
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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