Church of St Michael, Alnham
Encyclopedia
Church of St Michael is located in Alnham
, Northumberland
, England. It is an ancient structure, built circa 1200, and is dedicated to St. Michael. Built on a Roman
camp site, it is mentioned in records dating to 1291. It is a Grade I listed building.
." The Transitional-style church is situated in a pastoral district near the source of the River Alne
. Nearby, there are the remains of a castle, and a pele tower
that was later used as the vicarage house. The church is sited on a slope.
granted Alnham Church to the monks of Alnwick Abbey
. Its style of architecture corresponds with that period. It would appear that the monastic brethren rebuilt the church, as it was their usual custom either to rebuild or beautify churches that were given to them. In the Taxatio Ecclesiastica—a tax made on all church property about 129—Alnham Rectory was valued at £
31. The Nonarum inquisitiones of 1340 states its value was £37 13s. 4d.
In the king's books (Henry VIII
, early 1500s), it was valued at £3 7s. as a discharged vicarage. During the reign of Elizabeth, it was also £3 7s. It is part of a formal document written in 1597, by Henry, the ninth Earl of Northumberland
, to Thomas Percy. For many years this Thomas Percy, one of the leaders in the Gunpowder Plot
, was constable of Alnwick Castle, and auditor and commissioner to the Earl. Notice of Alnham Church is found in Tate's 1866 The History of the borough, Barony and Castle of Alnwick, Vol. I. It is dedicated to St. Michael, the most popular Saint in north Northumberland
, with no less than eight churches in the Archdeaconry of Lindisfarne
being dedicated to that saint.
within the nave
. The church is constructed in the style of architecture which prevailed during the early part of the reign of Edward III
(mid 1300s), though some of the windows are of more modern construction.
Building features include a bell-Cot
, a lower chancel
, a porch, and a three-bay arcade. There was a north aisle in previous centuries. North and south transept
s occur, though only the south one is part of the original construction. The north one was used as a Sunday school. The chancel has an ancient Transitional arch. There are four buttresses at the west end and two at the north and south. Some of the ancient windows are preserved. The church restorers of the 1700s inserted a few sash windows, and in some minor matters otherwise impaired its integrity. Elements from 16th and 17th-century work include a porch and doorway. A strong roof was added in about 1840.
In 1862, the church was described as having a rickety door and mildewed walls. The western end contained an Early Transitional single window. The rest of the window openings had been modernized and filled with common sashes, which were rotten, letting in wind and rain. The east end had a small square sash, such as is ordinarily provided for a scullery or any inferior office. Three of the pews were square, with a table fixed in the centre of each; a fourth formed three sides of a quadrangle that was occupied by a stove. Fungi abound, and the pavement was sodden and damp. Ruin was considered imminent, unless precautions were taken to avert it. In 1870, the church underwent a careful restoration under the supervision of architect F. R. Wilson of Alnwick
. The bell-cot, which had been lowered to the porch, was to be re-erected on the west gable. Sashes were to be taken out, and replaced with windows corresponding with the character of the building. New sittings were to be furnished for the nave, and stalls for the chancel.
Alnham
Alnham is a village in Northumberland, England. It is about to the west of Alnwick.To the west of the Church of St Michael, Alnham Vicars Pele is a 14th century pele tower, restored from a ruinous state in the 19th century....
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England. It is an ancient structure, built circa 1200, and is dedicated to St. Michael. Built on a Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
camp site, it is mentioned in records dating to 1291. It is a Grade I listed building.
Parish
The Parish of Alnham is situated in the northwest of Northumberland, and the small village lies within 8 miles (12.9 km) of the Scottish border. The Oliverian Survey of Church Livings, 1650, says:— "That the Parish of Alneham was formerly a Viccaridge, the Earle of Northumberland Patron thereof, Mr. Thompson Viccar, and the value of the said Viccaridge worth twenty pounds p'annu," while the Rentals and Rates of 1663 show that the neighbouring landowners then held the rectorial tithes. Amongst the papers belonging to the parish now in the possession of the Vicar is:—"A Terrier of the Gleeb Land belonging to the Vicaridg of Alneham in the County of Northumberland and Diocese of Durham. Imp".—There is a vicarage house which is an old ruined tower. The parish register begins in 1688.Geography
The church stands on the site of a small Roman camp, "which most probably has been for a Centurion's guard to protect the herds of cattle when grazing during summer, in the rich pastures on the banks of the river Aln, above WhittinghamWhittingham, Northumberland
Whittingham is a village in the English County of Northumberland.In the village is Whittingham Tower, a pele tower dating from the thirteenth or fourteenth century, converted into almshouses in 1845, and now in private ownership.- Governance :...
." The Transitional-style church is situated in a pastoral district near the source of the River Alne
River Alne
The River Alne is a tributary of the Warwickshire Avon and has its headwaters to the north of Wootton Wawen. The River Alne flows generally southwards before joining with the River Arrow at Alcester, which itself joins the River Avon near Salford Priors....
. Nearby, there are the remains of a castle, and a pele tower
Peel tower
Peel towers are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England, intended as watch towers where signal fires could be lit by the garrison to warn of approaching danger...
that was later used as the vicarage house. The church is sited on a slope.
History
While the walls are indicative of the period in which it was erected, very few records are available regarding the church's early history and its pre-Reformation rectors. Like most of the ancient parish churches, it would have been built and endowed by the early owners of the manor, but towards the end of the 12th century, William de VesciWilliam de Vesci
William FitzEustace de Vesci was an Anglo-Norman feudal lord and Sheriff.He was born in Knaresborough castle, Yorkshire to Eustace Fitz John de Burgo, Lord of Knaresborough and Beatrice de Vesci....
granted Alnham Church to the monks of Alnwick Abbey
Alnwick Abbey
Alnwick Abbey was founded as a Premonstratensian monastery in 1147 by Eustace fitz John near Alnwick, England, as a daughter house of Newhouse Abbey in Lincolnshire. It was dissolved in 1535, refounded in 1536 and finally suppressed in 1539. It was granted to the Sadler and Winnington...
. Its style of architecture corresponds with that period. It would appear that the monastic brethren rebuilt the church, as it was their usual custom either to rebuild or beautify churches that were given to them. In the Taxatio Ecclesiastica—a tax made on all church property about 129—Alnham Rectory was valued at £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
31. The Nonarum inquisitiones of 1340 states its value was £37 13s. 4d.
In the king's books (Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, early 1500s), it was valued at £3 7s. as a discharged vicarage. During the reign of Elizabeth, it was also £3 7s. It is part of a formal document written in 1597, by Henry, the ninth Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland KG was an English aristocrat. He was a grandee and one of the wealthiest peers of the court of Elizabeth I. Under James I, Henry was a long-term prisoner in the Tower of London. He is known for the circles he moved in as well as for his own achievements...
, to Thomas Percy. For many years this Thomas Percy, one of the leaders in the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
, was constable of Alnwick Castle, and auditor and commissioner to the Earl. Notice of Alnham Church is found in Tate's 1866 The History of the borough, Barony and Castle of Alnwick, Vol. I. It is dedicated to St. Michael, the most popular Saint in north Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, with no less than eight churches in the Archdeaconry of Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
being dedicated to that saint.
Architecture
Although the building appears to date from about 1200, older features include Saxon quoinsQuoin (architecture)
Quoins are the cornerstones of brick or stone walls. Quoins may be either structural or decorative. Architects and builders use quoins to give the impression of strength and firmness to the outline of a building...
within the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
. The church is constructed in the style of architecture which prevailed during the early part of the reign of Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
(mid 1300s), though some of the windows are of more modern construction.
Building features include a bell-Cot
Bell-Cot
A bell-cot, bell-cote or bellcote, is a small framework and shelter for one or more bells, supported on brackets projecting from a wall or built on the roof of chapels or churches which have no towers. It often holds the Sanctus bell rung at the Consecration....
, a lower chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, a porch, and a three-bay arcade. There was a north aisle in previous centuries. North and south transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
s occur, though only the south one is part of the original construction. The north one was used as a Sunday school. The chancel has an ancient Transitional arch. There are four buttresses at the west end and two at the north and south. Some of the ancient windows are preserved. The church restorers of the 1700s inserted a few sash windows, and in some minor matters otherwise impaired its integrity. Elements from 16th and 17th-century work include a porch and doorway. A strong roof was added in about 1840.
In 1862, the church was described as having a rickety door and mildewed walls. The western end contained an Early Transitional single window. The rest of the window openings had been modernized and filled with common sashes, which were rotten, letting in wind and rain. The east end had a small square sash, such as is ordinarily provided for a scullery or any inferior office. Three of the pews were square, with a table fixed in the centre of each; a fourth formed three sides of a quadrangle that was occupied by a stove. Fungi abound, and the pavement was sodden and damp. Ruin was considered imminent, unless precautions were taken to avert it. In 1870, the church underwent a careful restoration under the supervision of architect F. R. Wilson of Alnwick
Alnwick
Alnwick is a small market town in north Northumberland, England. The town's population was just over 8000 at the time of the 2001 census and Alnwick's district population was 31,029....
. The bell-cot, which had been lowered to the porch, was to be re-erected on the west gable. Sashes were to be taken out, and replaced with windows corresponding with the character of the building. New sittings were to be furnished for the nave, and stalls for the chancel.