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
Search
Search the Headstone Transcriptions of Other Kirk/Church Yards directory:
[Plain cross mounted on pedestal of three stepped stones. Metal lettering used for all inscriptions]
Sacred to the memory of GEORGE ALBERT ORMSBY, D.D.,
Bishop, & Vicar of Eglinghamborn Sept 1843, died Feby 1924. son of the Rt. Hon. HENRY ORMSBY of Dublin.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace because he trusted in thee.
And of his wife ELLEN HARRIET ORMSBY died 19th June 1925 aged 72 years.
[Inscription on front three stones of pedestal]
In memory of EDWARD OSWALD DORMSBY 1908 – 1973. JOAN ELIZABETH ORMSBY 1918 – 1990 devoted wife of the above
[Inscription on three left faces of pedestal]
Also in memory of ROWLAND HENRY ORMSBY who died in New York, 1921. ALBERT VICTOR BEDE ORMSBY who died in british Honduras, 1915. OSWALD WILLIAM ORMSBY Commander, B.N. who died Jamaica 1913.
MARGARET, daughter of JOHN & MARY WILSON of beanley, who died in infancy March 2. 1872, also JANE their daughter who died July 13. 1882. aged 3 years. Also of the above MARY WILSON who died March 7. 1912, aged 67 years. Also the above JOHN WILSON died Feb 22 1924 aged 77 years Also MARGARET their daughter died Feb 28 1925 aged 50 years
In Memoryof MARGARET, daughter of GEORGE & MARY CHISHOLM, who died septr 18th 1871, aged 16 years.
Her sun has gone down while it was yet day.
The above GEORGE CHISHOLM who died octr 24th 1878, aged 56 years; Also of MARY, his wife who died feby 15th 1883, aged 64 years. Also CATHERINE JANE, eldest daughter of the above who died novr 21st 1909, in her 60th year.
In Loving Memory of GEORGE CLEGHORN, who died Sept. 18. 1918, aged 66 years. Also of JANIE his daughter, who died June 1.1897, aged 23 years. Also of MARY ANN his wife, who died at Eglingham Jan. 10. 1936 aged 80 years. Also of DORA, daughter of the above who died Sept. 19. 1976 aged 83 years. Also of HENRIETTA, her devoted sister daughter of the above GEORGE & MARY ANN who died march. 18. 1977 aged 85 years.
[Headstone fallen face up, with broken bottom corner]
Here Lye JAMES FORESTER in Beanley·who Dyed. October The 24 1747 Aged 63 Years. Also ISABELL his wife Aged 43 Years dyed In The Year 1736. Also his Daughter MARY dyd 1739 Aged 3 years.
[Inscription difficult to read because of bad weathering and lichen]
Here lies the Body of Nich Forester of Beanl Who Departed this??
[Inscription on back of headstone is from a photo taken before headstone was knocked flat.]
[Headstone fallen face up and broken in six pieces]
Sacred to the Memory of ELIZABETH wife of THOMAS JAMES of brandon in the parish of Egglingham and daughter of JOSEPH and ELIZABETH BOYCOTT of Doddington Salop who departed this life March 9th 1857 aged 44 years. Also the above THOMAS JAMES who died at Brandon December 18th 1857 aged 57
[Difficult to read because inscription very badly weathered.
Sacred to the memory of ELIZABETH daughter of JAMES and ELIZABETH GRAY who died at Wooperton House 21st January 1841 aged 25 years. Also of the above named JAMES GRAY who died 13th February 1856 aged 85 years, and of the above named ELIZABETHGRAY who died at Titlington Hall 29 july 1863 aged 88 years. Also of JOHN only son of the above named JAMES and ELIZABETH GRAY who died at Buston House 26th April 1882 aged 64 years. And of SARAH his wife who died at Wooperton 13 March 1853 aged 33 years Also of WILLIAM the eldest child of the above named JOHN and SARAH GRAY who died 17th March 1853 aged 3 years and of JAMES JOHN their third and youngest childwho died 26 March 1853 aged 14 days. Also of MARY ANNE the second wife of the above named JOHN GRAY who died at Titlington Hall on 20thApril 1865 aged 43 years. and SARAH ELIZABETH wife of THOMAS TATE of bank house daughter of JOHN GRAY died at Eglingham Oct 20 1930 aged 87 buried at Brainshaugh.
Plain cross mounted on pedestal of three stepped stones, resting on stone plinth. Inscription in metal lettering. Several metal letters missing, but inscription is carved into stone.
MARY wife of
[On front of top stone]
RALPH STOREY STOREY of Beanley, died November 26th 1914 aged 55 years.
[On front of middle stone]
RALPH STOREY STOREY of Beanley born Jan 18th 1830, died Oct. 26th 1919.
ERECTED in memory of THOMAS, son of THOMAS and MARY MOLE, of Eglingham.
who died April 2nd 1852 aged 20 years. WILLIAM their son died Jany 11th 1862. aged 11 years. JOHN, their son died Decr 1st 1868. aged 25 years. JAMES their son died May 14th 1869.aged 30 years and was interred in Finchley Cemetery london. The above MARY MOLE died Augst 19th1869 aged 59 years.
[Inscription on front of headstone]
In memory of MARY wife of JAMES RUTHERFORD and daughter of THOMAS and MARY MOLE who died september 8th 1874, aged 38 years.
Here Lies the body of Mabel and Mary Wife to John Sherp Also the Body of Ann his Daughter who departed this life Feb 16 1746 aged 26 years Also the Body of John Sherp who departed this life Decr 13 1775 aged 96 years.
[Difficult to read because of very bad weathering and lichen. Inscription as it appears on the headstone.
Name “Sherp” could be “Sharp”. See Eglingham burial records page 149]
Here lies the bodyof Joseph West Iuniour who Died Augst the 24th 1758 aged 29 years Also Joseph West the Son of Samuel West who Died Sept the 27th 1757 aged 3 years Also Ann Nickelson the Daughter of Joseph Nickelson who Died Novr 29th 1754 aged 2 years.
[Inscription as it appears on front of headstone. The word “Junior” has an initial capital “I” Lichen makes reading very difficult.]
Here lies the Body of Joseph West senior who Died June the 18th 1759 aged 68 years
The burying place of JOHN STOREY esqr of Beanley. MARY, wife of the above JOHN STOREY died April 6th 1756. aged 33 years. SUSANNAH daughter of the said JOHN and MARY STOREY died nov 7th 1780 aged 29 years. ARTHUR infant son of ARTHUR and MARY STOREY of Beanley died Nov 24th 1792 ISABELLA daughter of ARTHUR and MARY STOREY. died oct 6th 1799 aged 3 years. JOHN STOREY esqr of beanley died Decr 20th 1808 aged 94 years. MARY wife of ARTHUR STOREY esqr. of Beanley died may 22nd 1825 aged 61 years JOHN STOREY of Bolton Wood Hall son of ARTHURSTOREY esqr ofBeanley and MARY his wife died May 2nd 1830 aged 46 years. ARTHUR STOREY esqr of beanley died July 15th 1833 aged 79 years. RALPH STOREY esqr of beanley died Novr 20th 1859 aged 62 years.
[Table tomb supported on six short legs]
[Very difficult to read because of thick coat of lichen.]
Erected by ANDREW KER MOFFAT of Beanley and MARY his wife in memory of JOHN their son who died septr 1st 1821 Aged 2 months. of MARY ANN their daughter who died Decr 23rd 1837. Aged 15 years. this monument is also in memory of the above named MARY MOFFAT who died Jany 1st 1849 Aged 57 years. of the above named ANDREW KER MOFFAT who died june 26 1850 Aged 54 years. of JOHN STOREY their son who died august 31st 1889 Aged 57 years. of ANDREW KER DAVIDSON MOFFAT their son who died March 20th 1891 Aged 62 years.
[Inscription difficult to read because badly weathered and coated in lichen.]
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
