Holy Cross Church (Haltwhistle)
(NY 70756403) Church. (1)
Holy Cross is a complete and well preserved Early English church. The west end was rebuilt in 1879. (2)(3)
See GPs AO 56/363/6 and 7. (4)
In normal use. (5)
Exceptionally complete and well preserved early English parish church. Restored by R J Johnson in 1870. The buttresses around the church appear original 13th century work. Inside are three 14th century cross slabs in high relief. (6)
The chancel is 12th century with a 13th century nave. The earliest documentary reference to the church is from the 13th century in the charter of the Abbey of Arbroath. (7)
War memorials include:
* a brass plaque, inscribed: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ LIEUT. HARRY LOWES WILLEY,/ OF THE 23RD BATTN. MANCHESTER/ REGT./ WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT/ LANGEMARK, NEAR YPRES, BELGIUM/ 22ND OCTOBER, 1917 AGED 24 YEARS./ "HE ASKED LIFE OF THEE, AND THOU GAVEST HIM/ A LONG LIFE, EVEN FOR EVER AND EVER".
* a brass plaque inscribed: IN MEMORY OF OLIVE, YOUNGEST DAUGHTER/ OF ROBERT AND MARY SMITH/ OF GREYSTONE DALE/ WHO DIED AT OSTROVO, SERBIA,/ ON OCTOBER 6TH 1916, WHILE ON ACTIVE SERVICE/ WITH THE SCOTTISH WOMEN'S HOSPITAL UNIT./ BURIED AT THE ALLIES' CEMETERY, SALONIKA./ THIS TABLET IS PLACED HERE BY HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
* a brass plaque, inscribed: IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ CAPT. RAYMOND SMITH/ XI BORDER REGT./ KILED IN ACTION NEAR/ THIEPVAL ON JULY 1ST 1916/ AGED 27 YEARS/ "GREATER LOVE/ HATH NO MAN THAN THIS,/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/ LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS". (8)(9)(10)
Further war memorials include:
* a roll of honour book and lectern inscribed "HALTWHISTLE/ ROLL/ OF HONOUR/ 1914/ TO 1918/ HONOURING THE/ MEMORY OF MEN AND/ WOMEN OF THE PARISH/ OF HALTWHISTLE/ WHO NOBLY GAVE THEIR OWN LIVES/ TO SECURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR/ FRIENDS, THE HONOUR OF THEIR/ COUNTRY, AND THE FREEDOM OF THE/ WHOLE WORLD, WHEN THREATENED/ WITH DESTRUCTION IN THE RUTHLESS/ WARFARE OF THE YEARS 1914 - 1918,/ THIS RECORD OF BRAVE/ NAMES IS PLACED IN THEIR/ PARISH CHURCH THAT THEY MAY/ BE REMEMBERED BEFORE GOD WITH/ GRATITUDE AND WITH PRAYER/ 1939 - 1945/ (NAMES)".
* a brass memorial plaque inscribed "IN MEMORY OF/ LCE. CORP. JAMES FLEMING/ 14TH KING'S HUSSARS/ OF THIS PARISH WHO DIED ON/ ACTIVE SERVICE AT/ KROONSTADT, S.A./ ON FEBRUARY 12TH 1903./ ERECTED BY HIS COMRADES". (11)(12)
Haltwhistle Church is unusual in the area in being a building of a single period: the mid-13th century. The 13th century building survives intact, apart from the addition of a vestry on the north of the nave; its overall appearance and architectural features today, although in part the product of Victorian restoration, are believed to be very close to those of the original. A number of illustrations made before the 1870 restoration survive together with a plan which accompanied the restoration faculty, the papers of which also survive. The building was completely gutted, roofs renewed, and the floors lowered. (13)
Holy Cross is a complete and well preserved Early English church. The west end was rebuilt in 1879. (2)(3)
See GPs AO 56/363/6 and 7. (4)
In normal use. (5)
Exceptionally complete and well preserved early English parish church. Restored by R J Johnson in 1870. The buttresses around the church appear original 13th century work. Inside are three 14th century cross slabs in high relief. (6)
The chancel is 12th century with a 13th century nave. The earliest documentary reference to the church is from the 13th century in the charter of the Abbey of Arbroath. (7)
War memorials include:
* a brass plaque, inscribed: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ LIEUT. HARRY LOWES WILLEY,/ OF THE 23RD BATTN. MANCHESTER/ REGT./ WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT/ LANGEMARK, NEAR YPRES, BELGIUM/ 22ND OCTOBER, 1917 AGED 24 YEARS./ "HE ASKED LIFE OF THEE, AND THOU GAVEST HIM/ A LONG LIFE, EVEN FOR EVER AND EVER".
* a brass plaque inscribed: IN MEMORY OF OLIVE, YOUNGEST DAUGHTER/ OF ROBERT AND MARY SMITH/ OF GREYSTONE DALE/ WHO DIED AT OSTROVO, SERBIA,/ ON OCTOBER 6TH 1916, WHILE ON ACTIVE SERVICE/ WITH THE SCOTTISH WOMEN'S HOSPITAL UNIT./ BURIED AT THE ALLIES' CEMETERY, SALONIKA./ THIS TABLET IS PLACED HERE BY HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
* a brass plaque, inscribed: IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ CAPT. RAYMOND SMITH/ XI BORDER REGT./ KILED IN ACTION NEAR/ THIEPVAL ON JULY 1ST 1916/ AGED 27 YEARS/ "GREATER LOVE/ HATH NO MAN THAN THIS,/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/ LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS". (8)(9)(10)
Further war memorials include:
* a roll of honour book and lectern inscribed "HALTWHISTLE/ ROLL/ OF HONOUR/ 1914/ TO 1918/ HONOURING THE/ MEMORY OF MEN AND/ WOMEN OF THE PARISH/ OF HALTWHISTLE/ WHO NOBLY GAVE THEIR OWN LIVES/ TO SECURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR/ FRIENDS, THE HONOUR OF THEIR/ COUNTRY, AND THE FREEDOM OF THE/ WHOLE WORLD, WHEN THREATENED/ WITH DESTRUCTION IN THE RUTHLESS/ WARFARE OF THE YEARS 1914 - 1918,/ THIS RECORD OF BRAVE/ NAMES IS PLACED IN THEIR/ PARISH CHURCH THAT THEY MAY/ BE REMEMBERED BEFORE GOD WITH/ GRATITUDE AND WITH PRAYER/ 1939 - 1945/ (NAMES)".
* a brass memorial plaque inscribed "IN MEMORY OF/ LCE. CORP. JAMES FLEMING/ 14TH KING'S HUSSARS/ OF THIS PARISH WHO DIED ON/ ACTIVE SERVICE AT/ KROONSTADT, S.A./ ON FEBRUARY 12TH 1903./ ERECTED BY HIS COMRADES". (11)(12)
Haltwhistle Church is unusual in the area in being a building of a single period: the mid-13th century. The 13th century building survives intact, apart from the addition of a vestry on the north of the nave; its overall appearance and architectural features today, although in part the product of Victorian restoration, are believed to be very close to those of the original. A number of illustrations made before the 1870 restoration survive together with a plan which accompanied the restoration faculty, the papers of which also survive. The building was completely gutted, roofs renewed, and the floors lowered. (13)
N6687
FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1956; A S Phillips
FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; R W Emsley
WATCHING BRIEF, Holy Cross Church 2011; Archaeological Services Durham University
DESCRIPTIVE BUILDINGS RECORD (LEVEL 2), Church of the Holy Cross ; P Ryder
FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT), Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; R W Emsley
WATCHING BRIEF, Holy Cross Church 2011; Archaeological Services Durham University
DESCRIPTIVE BUILDINGS RECORD (LEVEL 2), Church of the Holy Cross ; P Ryder
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Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.