THE CHURCH
In the 8th century, Eagwulfincham, was one of four royal villages, given to the St Cuthbert’s community on Lindisfarne by the Northumbrian King Ceolwulf after he joined them to became a monk. When Holy Island was abandoned in the 9th century, the monastic land and church at Eglingham was briefly held by Durham, but then granted to the new priory of Tynemouth, which was a cell of the Abbey at St Albans. After the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, the church at Eglingham reverted again to Durham.
An earlier simply constructed building, was replaced by a stone church in the 12th century, with the tower added in the mid-13th century. First sacked by raiding Scots in 1596/7, the church was virtually destroyed in 1640, during Cromwell’s time, at the hands of General Sir Alexander Leslie’s army of the Covenanters who supported the Presbyterian church of Scotland. The imposing tower was the only part of the building which survived intact. The damage was repaired and the church reconstructed later in the 17th century.
Victorians made further changes, lowering the nave roof, adding a porch and steeple as well as replacing the windows. John Green, a Newcastle architect whose firm designed the Theatre Royal, was criticised for turning St Maurice’s, ‘a valuable post-medieval building into a sham one’. More sensitive alterations were made in later Victorian times by F.R.Wilson of Alnwick, who had previously worked on the Houses of Parliament.
From 1842 to 1980, eleven Vicars of Eglingham were also Archdeacons of Lindisfarne. There is more to discover in the Lindisfarne Legacy exhibition in St Maurice’s Ogle Chapel.
St Maurice
Maurice was a Christian officer in the Roman army. Of North African origin, he was martyred in the 3rd century for refusing to kill other Christians. Mostly remembered as the patron saint of soldiers, St Maurice is a popular church dedication in Europe and America, but rare in England. There is no image of St Maurice in Eglingham, but at the church at nearby Ellingham, which is also dedicated to this saint, there is a memorial window showing him, as he is traditionally depicted, in full amour. His feast day is 22 September.
GOD’S ACRE
There has been a Christian burial place in Eglingham for more than a thousand years. The surviving gravestones are historical treasures which reveal much about the cultural heritage of this community, and their inscriptions can provide a fascinating insight into past lives. On the south side of the tower, the table top memorial belonging to the Storey family of Beanley records many generations and over 100 years of their family’s history. Other gravestones tell tragic tales of infant mortality, but also positive stories of longevity and faithful service in the parish.
In the Medieval times, the churchyard was used for bustling fairs and noisy markets which were an important source of income for the priest. Those in the parish with power and influence had the privilege of being buried under the church floor and in family vaults. Medieval stone grave slabs were often repurposed for later building work, and some may have been used as foundationstones for St Maurice’s mid-13th century tower. In contrast, the poor were buried in unmarked graves covered in a simple shroud with no coffin, and it was common for graves to be reused. In a practice which continues today, bodies were laid on their back with the head facing east. The exception was for priests who were buried facing west so they would rise in front of their congregation at the second coming of Christ.
It was only in the 18th century that rows of grave markers as we know them today became commonplace. However, in this rural community, it was still only those with some wealth who could afford a permanent reminder of their affluence. Of the 1,000 burials in the 18th century at St Maurice’s, only 40 remain marked with a gravestone. These burials were all on the southside of the church as people believed the northside was associated with darkness and the devil. Carved locally in sandstone, each one is a creative original. The earliest, dated 1717, is a small, simply carved, stone in memory of James Young.Amongst these old stones are some fine examples of “Memento Mori” symbolism – stark reminders of the transience of life and the inevitability of death.
By the 19th century, local carvers had given way to monumental masons.There are more than 50 headstones from Alnwick masons, Daniel McMillan. Victorian fashion also demanded larger stones in architectural revival styles. Chosen from classical pattern books, there are fine examples in the western section of the churchyard erected by the families of theArchdeacons of Lindisfarne, and the principal landowners: the Collingwoods and Carr-Ellisons.
Since the 20th century, additional diocesan rules mean that more recent mass-produced stones (mostly in the 1927 eastern extension) are smaller and tend to give little away about the people who lie beneath. However, there are a few exceptions of stones collected from the moors or specially designed by the family, which reflect more individual stories.Now,there are fewer burials as nationally 80% of bodies are cremated. St Maurice’s Remembrance Garden was created in the 1980s.
For more information go to www.eglingham.info/introduction-Community History Project
Carolyn Brewster 2024
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There are no Boer War entries for this memorial.
There are no Boer War entries for this memorial.
There are no Boer War entries for this memorial.
[Badge of Worcester Regiment]
In loving memory of COLONEL HENRY ARBUTHNOT CARR DSO Worcestershire Regiment of Woodhill, Otterburn born 2 September 1872 died 22 January 1951 eldest son of Colonel RALPH EDWARD & JANET WEDGWOOD CARR.
AMY HARRIETTE third daughter of J. R. CARR-ELLISON of Hedgeley Born 18 Feb 1871, Died 26 Oct 1950
In Loving Memory.
MARY MAY BRIGGS-GOODERHAM 3rd May 1887 – 5th December 1966
[Plain cross mounted on plinth of three stepped stones]
EMILY THEODORA GOODERHAM. Fell asleep 26th March 1936.
[Inscription on middle stone]
[Tomb with a coping stone which has sloping top and vertical sides.]
Sacred to the memory of BLANCHE beloved wife of the Rev A. GOODERHAM eldest daughter of Sir JAMES PENNETHORNE, of Worcester Park, Surrey, who died Dec. 12, 1908 aged 70 years. [On top left side of coping stone]
Thy kingdom come, o Lord. [On left face of coping stone]
ABRAHAM GOODERHAM Vicar of Eglingham 1904:1912 fell asleep August 25 1914 aged 75 years. Revd. E. J. R. BRIGGS GOODERHAM, Lieut 36th Machine Gun Company called to higher service December 13th 1916. [On top right side of coping stone]
EMILY THEODORA GOODERHAM, his second wife, eldest daughter of JOHN RALPH CARR-ELLISON fell asleep 26th March 1936. [On right-side face of coping stone. Difficult to read in poor light because of white lichen.]
Thy will be done [On shield hanging from nail, inside trefoil]
In Loving Remembrance of GEORGE S FOSTER who died at Cock Hall June 17th 1878 aged, 44 years, Also of SARAH ANNE his daughter who died March 14 1871 aged 14 months. Also of MARGARET his wife who died Sept. 19. 1917, aged 79 years, Also of MARGARET, his daughter who died at Roker October 15 1941. Also CHRISTOPHER WATSON FOSTER, son of the above who died at Durham Feb. 9. 1950,aged 83 years.
[Intertwined letters inside quatrefoil – Ihs]
In Affectionate Remembrance of MARY, wife of WILLIAM TAYLOR of East Ditchburn who died August 29th 1868 aged 38 Years. Also the above WILLIAM TAYLOR who died March 16th 1898 aged 73 Years.
Rest in peace.
[Weathered, with thick coating of white lichen]
In Memory of ELIZABETH wife of WILLIAM PILE, who died at Beanley July 20th 1867 aged 65 years. JOHN, son of the above, died January 3rd 1831. aged 3 years. MARY, daughter of the above, died June 4th 1839, aged 15 years. SARAH, daughter of the above, died January 9th 1846, aged 11 years. ELIZABETH, daughter of the above, died in infancy. The above WILLIAM PILE died April 30th 1886 aged 90 years.
[Areas of stone flaking and missing]
[Small headstone with plastic pot on top]
In loving memory of my dear mother BESSIE PILE died 29TH March 1948.
[Inscription on piece of slate fixed to headstone]
Meet us there [On ribbon gripped in hand, index finger pointing up]
In Loving Memory of WILLIAM DUNN who died at Beanley Oct 22 1898 aged 57 years. Also of ELIZABETH his daughter who died Oct 10 1870 aged 18 months. Also of AGNES ANN his daughter who died June 23 1897 aged 20 years. Also of ELEANOR his wife who died March 3 1922 aged 77 years.
D. Mc Millan & Co
[Mason’s name on front of plinth]
(Small, rough-dressed stone)
ROBERT DUNN 1865-1939, JANE ANN DUNN 1867-1934
In memory of MATTHEW BLAIR of Eglingham Hall who died December 31st 1867 aged 74 years.
[Difficult to read because of white lichen]
[Celtic cross mounted on two-stepped pedestal, on plinth.]
In Loving Memory of [Inscription on front of top step.]
HENRY JOHN MARTIN M.A. for twenty one years Vicar of this parish and Archdeacon of Lindisfarne. Born November 28 1880 died December 28 1903 ‘Jesus called him to heaven’s perfect peace.’
D.Mc Millan & co [On front of first step]
And in loving memory of WILHELMINA MARIA his wife who died Feb 20 1924
‘Nearer my God to thee’,
[Inscription on left panel of first step]
Also in memory of HENRY MARTIN, Colonel R.A.M.C. their eldest son who was accidentally drowned in Japan June 4 1908.
[Inscription on right panel of first step]
Three Inscriptions in one
EDITH MARION AINGER August 5 1943
WALTER HENRY AINGER January 6 1948 Vicar of Eglingham 1924 — 1939
DORIS HELEN AINGER July 31 1929
Jesu Mercy
Thy will be done. [Inscription on left page of book inside circle]
In Loving Memory of MARGARET SINCLAIR of Wooler who died 11th March 1899 aged 87 years.
Fallen face down
[Woman’s head wrapped in cloth covering. Underneath head, a bird either side of headstone]
In Memory of JOHN CARR who died at Glanton January 6th 1869, aged 37 years.
[Headstone fallen face up, with its top resting against its plinth and bottom resting on the ground. Crown stone has been placed on the plinth.]
In Memory of MARGARET the beloved wife of WILLIAM CAIRNS of Branton who died August 2nd 1868 aged 68 years. Also of CATHERINE their daughter who died January 10th 1841, aged 15 months and of MARGERY, their daughter who died March 12th 1862, aged 26 years and was interred in Alnwick Cemetery. Also of the above WILLIAM CAIRNS, who died Septr 9th 1875,aged 72 years. Also of ANDREW, their second son who died at High Farm, Wallsend, April 25th 1886, aged 57 years, and was interred at Wallsend. MARGARET their second daughter died at Alnwick Aug. 11. 1891 aged 57 years.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord” [Inscription on headstone]
[Inscription on front of plinth] D.Mc Millan Alnwick
[Mason’s name on right side of headstone, as well as on front right of plinth]
In Memory of THOMAS HALL of Old Bewick who died jany. 19th 1873, aged 77 years. Also of ANN, his wife who died feby 23rd 1879, aged 73 years. THOMAS, son of the above, who died Novr 8th 1866, aged 35 years; and is interred in Westgate Cemetery Newcastle. JOHN, son of the above, who died march 15th 1875, aged 34 years. JOSEPH, son of the above who died decr 31st 1880, aged 47 years; interred at Elswick Cemetery Newcastle. ROBERT EDMINSON HALL son of the above, who died 28th february 1893, aged 50 years. MARY JANE widow of ROBERT EDMINSON HALL, who died septr. 1st 1894, aged 55 years. ANN wife of JOHN OGLE daughter of the above, died Novr. 30, 1909, aged 63 years.
‘Watch there fore for ye know not what hour your lord doth come’.
D. Mc Millan Alnwick.
In Loving Memory of ALICE PALMER daughter of THOMAS & ANN HALL who died may 9. 1889 aged 56 years.
[Inscription on back of headstone]
In Affectionate Remembrance of ROBERT CARR of West Ditchburn who fell asleep in Jesus, June 30th 1873, aged 54 years.
“Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through jesus christ our Lord”.
Also of MARIA his wife, who entered into rest eternal July 8th 1912.
“in thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Also of ANNE PEMBERTON, daughter of the above called to rest eternal june 25th 1914, aged 44 years.
The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day’.
D.Mcmillan. Alnwick
[Mason’s name on left panel of plinth. Inscription is weathered in places. Misspelling “Fulness” is used on headstone.]
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