Hexham Abbey.

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Hexham Abbey.

Photo: 3 February 2001.

Author: Tim Rogers

(Wikimedia Commons)

Hexham Abbey is a place of Christian worship, dedicated to Saint Andrew, and located in the town of Hexham, Northumberland, in North-East England. Since the Dissolution of the Monasteries, in 1537, the Abbey has been the Parish Church of Hexham.

There has been a Church on the site for over 1,300 years, since Etheldreda, Queen of Northumbria, made a Grant of Lands to Wilfrid, Bishop of York, circa 674 A.D. Of Wilfrid's Benedictine Abbey, which was constructed almost entirely of material salvaged from nearby Roman ruins, the Saxon Crypt still remains; as does a Frith (freedom, security) Stool; and a 7th- 8th-Century Cathedra, or Throne (Bishop's Seat). For a little while, around that time, it was the Seat of a Bishopric.

In the year 875 A.D., Halfdene (Halfdan Ragnarsson), the Dane, ravaged the whole of Tyneside and Hexham Church was plundered and burnt to the ground.

Hexham Abbey,

illuminated at night.

Photo: 24 February 2009.

Source: From geograph.org.uk.

Author: Helen Wilkinson.

(Wikimedia Commons)

About 1050, Eilaf was put in charge of Hexham, although, as Treasurer of Durham, he probably never went there. Eilaf was instructed to rebuild Hexham Church, which then lay in utter ruin. His son, Eilaf II, completed the work, probably building in the Norman Style.

In Norman times, Wilfrid's Abbey was replaced by an Augustinian Priory. The current Church largely dates from that period (circa 1170 – 1250), in the Early English Style of architecture. The Choir, North and South Transepts, and the Cloisters, where Canons studied and meditated, date from this period.

Lancet Windows, North Transept, Hexham Abbey.

The glass in these windows was designed by W. B. Scott and made by Wailes of Gateshead, in 1873. These Lights depict the Twelve Apostles, with their emblems. (Source: Hexham Abbey Guide).

Photo: 2 April 2008.

Source: From geograph.org.uk.

Author: Mike Quinn.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The East End was re-built in 1860. The Abbey was largely rebuilt during the incumbency of Canon Edwin Sidney Savage, who came to Hexham in 1898 and remained until 1919. This mammoth project involved re-building the Nave, whose walls incorporate some of the earlier Church, and the restoration of the Choir. The Nave was re-consecrated on 8 August 1908.

In 1996, an additional Chapel was created at the East End of the North Choir Aisle. Named Saint Wilfrid's Chapel, it offers a place for Prayer or quiet reflection.

Hexham Abbey,

Northumberland, England.

Photo: 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: Bob Castle.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Blind Arcades on the North Wall of the North Transept, Hexham Abbey.

Until 1870, a large 17th-Century doorway, the Mercers' Doorway,

formed the principal entrance to the Abbey

through this wall. {Source: Hexham Abbey Guide, 

Photo: 2 April 2008.

Source: From geograph.org.uk.

Author: Mike Quinn.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Four of the Stained-Glass Windows in the Abbey are the work of Jersey-born Stained-Glass artist, Henry Thomas Bosdet, who was commissioned by the Abbey. The East Window was the first project and was installed about 1907. Two smaller windows followed and the large West Window was installed in 1918.

The Crypt is a plain structure of four Chambers. Here were exhibited the Relics, which were a feature of Wilfred's Church. It consists of a Chapel, with an Ante-Chapel at the West End, two side passages with enlarged vestibules, and three stairways. The Chapel and Ante-Chapel are Barrel-Vaulted. All the stones used are of Roman workmanship and many are carved, or with inscriptions. One inscription on a slab, partially erased, is:

IMP •CAES •L •SEP • • • PERTINAX •ET •IMPC • • AVR •ANTONINV • • • • VS • • • • • • • • •  • • • •HORTE • • • VEXILLATION • • • • • FECERVNT SVB • • • • •

Translated, it means: "The Emperor Lucius Septimus Severus Pius Pertinax and his sons the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antonius Pius Augustus and Publius Geta Caesar the cohorts and detachments made this under the command of . . . "

The words erased are of great interest. After the Emperor Geta was murdered by his brother, Caracalla, an edict was made at Rome ordering that, whenever the two names appeared in combination, that of Geta was to be erased. This was done, but so poorly that the name can still be read.

The first diocese of Lindisfarne was merged into the Diocese of York in 664 A.D. York Diocese was then divided, in 678 A.D., by Theodore of Tarsus, forming a Bishopric for the country between the Rivers Aln and Tees, with a Seat at Hexham and/or Lindisfarne. This gradually, and erratically, merged back into the Bishopric of Lindisfarne. Eleven Bishops of Hexham followed Saint Eata, of which six were Saints.

Hexham Abbey Organ,

installed in 1974.

Photo: 20 March 2008.

Source: From geograph.org.uk.

Author: Mike Quinn.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Hexham Abbey's

East Window.

Photo: 3 October 2009.

Source: From geograph.org.uk.

Author: Mike Quinn.

(Wikimedia Commons)

No successor was appointed in 821 A.D., the condition of the country being too unsettled. A period of disorder followed the Danish devastations, after which Hexham Monastery was reconstituted in 1113 as a priory of Austin Canons, which flourished until its Dissolution under King Henry VIII. Meantime, the Bishopric had been merged with that of Lindisfarne, which latter See was removed to Chester-le-Street, in 883 A.D., and thence to Durham in 995 A.D.

In 1856, the Abbey acquired a second-hand Organ from Carlisle Cathedral, dating from 1804. In 1905, this was rebuilt by Norman and Beard, with Sir Frederick Bridge, of Westminster Abbey, as the Consultant. In 1974, a new instrument, by Lawrence Phelps of Pennsylvania, was installed. It is a two-manual, thirty-four-stop, mechanical action instrument.

Hexham Abbey.

The Flag of the Northumberland Fusiliers.

Photo: 3 October 2009.

Source: From geograph.org.uk.

Author: Mike Quinn.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Hexham Abbey.

The High Altar.

Photo: 13 April 2009.

Source: From geograph.org.uk.

Author: Rod Allday.

(Wikimedia Commons)