(NY 98836444) Church. (1)

The first reference to a church at Corbridge is in 786 when it is referred to as 'a monastery called Corbridge' (a). Certain architectural features and the dedication to St. Andrew suggest that the original foundation may have been in the late 7th century. Though built as a monastic church there is no trace of other monastic buildings. The church is largely built of Roman stones from Corstopitum.
In the 11th century the western porch was raised and converted into a belfry tower. In 1107 Henry I settled the church on his chaplain, Richard d'Orival, but subsequently, about 1122, to the Augustinian monastery then founded at Carlisle.
Extensive alterations were made to the church in the 13th century bringing it to approximately its present form. The lower portion of the western tower and the walls of the nave arcade are the original Saxon structure. (2)

In April 1858 a late 9th century coin was found in a grave below the floor of the chancel. It is said to be inscribed Barnred R E., with the moneyer's name Cered. (3)

St Andrew's Church is still in use. A few old fonts lie outside the Church on the north, and in a south wall is a sundial with the date '1694'. No remains of monastic buildings are to be found in the churchyard or elsewhere. (4)

Church badly portrayed on O.S. 25 inch see attached survey. (5)

In normal use. (6)

A dowsing survey was carried out and appears to suggest another phase in the history of the tower by indicating traces of a north-south foundation underlying it. (7)

Corbridge Church, first mentioned AD786. Believed to have been founded between 674-8. The 7th/8th century church comprised simple rectangular nave, west porch and chancel. The porch is incorporated in the present tower. Above the arched doorway is an original window. Between porch and nave is an arch 5.6m high built from the voussoirs of a single Roman arch; piers formed from various Roman sources - lewis holes and cramp holes evidence.
Porch enlarged in 11th century, to a campanile. Present entrance to church is via a 12th century doorway. Enlargement of church probably 13th century date: north aisle with arcade, south aisle, transepts, and finally a west aisle to north transept. Few changes made after 13th century. Much repair work done since mid-19th century. Early 20th century saw clerestory and south porch added. (8)

Corbridge is one of about ten churches with evidence for a western annexe - significant characteristic of the 'Kentish group' of Anglo-Saxon churches with annexes to north, south and west. (9)

Four main phases of the church's history:
i) 675-1200: building of the Saxon church, partial destruction c.920, alterations to tower and main entrance in 11th century;
ii) 1200-1296: reconstruction of nave and construction of chancel, transepts and aisles;
iii) 1296-1850: 14th, 16th and 17th century destruction, temporary repair and maintenance;
iv) 1850 onwards: restoration, renewal, etc.
(Description of Roman, Saxon, Norman and later stones). (10)

Part of an 11th century slab inside church. 375mm high x 309mm-215mm wide x 140mm deep. Parts of two circles with cruciform centres on one face. Possibly part of an altar.
Finial cross, possibly from gable end of church, now inside church. 536mm high x 282mm wide x 254mm-165mm deep. Shape of cross is type B8. Possibly 11th century date. (11)

Grave slab fragment, 16in x 9in. Probably an Anglo-Danish tombstone, not Roman. In Corbridge Church (in 1959), from Vicar's Pele and church previously. RIB 2365. (12)

A watching brief was carried out in November 1997 during floor repairs inside the church at the west end of the nave. The repairs required part of the capping of a vault to be renewed which gave the opportunity to observe the vault from above. The vault lies is constructed of 18th century brick, the west end covered by stone slabs and the east end arched over. Rows of sockets in the side walls may suggest an earlier phase of use before the insertion of the present burials. The vault now contains two coffins, identified as those of Lionel and Hannah Winship of Aydon, who died in 1811 and 1812 respectively. Debris from previous floor repairs lies over the western ends of the coffins. (13)(14)

Trenches dug in November 1972 by gasworks found 30 human bones in Hill Street. It was suggested by local historian Robert Foster that the graveyard formerly extended north into Hill Street. (17)

A watching was conducted over various building works taking place in and around the parish church. These included the north transept, the nave, the south transept, an area outside the church to the south, and other areas in the churchyard. Some features of interest were found, but little pre-dated the 19th century, when the church was restored. The only earlier features exposed were footings formed from massive gritstone blocks, which pre-date the 19th century sleeper walls. One of these was on the line of the south arcade and may relate to the Saxon nave wall. A second footing projected from the east wall of the south transept and may relate to the original early 13th century aisle or possibly the pre-Conquest porticus. (18)

A watching brief in 2005, on the cutting of foundations for a toilet block at the northern edge of the churchyard, required the excavation of nine articulated human burials as well as a quantity of human bone, including some from a charnel pit, or ossuary. The articulated burials had all been placed in shallow graves, extended on their backs, with heads to the west in typical Christian manner. There was no evidence of coffins and the burials are assumed to have been wrapped in shrouds.
Although the burials all appear to have been positioned with care and due respect, there is every indication that after a reasonable time the burial area was re-used. The partial dissection of a number of burials also indicates that burials were not removed in any co-ordinated way and that plot markers were probably not evident.
Osteological analysis of the skeletal assemblage showed there were three males (two of whom were young middle-aged and one who was more mature - at least mid to late 40s), one female (young middle-aged), and a disarticulated mature female of some considerable age. At least six children were also represented including three juveniles under the age of six and three infants.
The presence of exclusively medieval pottery from the burials and surrounding soil, together with the absence of coffins, indicates that the articulated remains had been buried in the churchyard during the high medieval period. (19)

Church includes a series of war memorials as:
* a memorial aumbry and sanctuary lamp inscribed "IN MEMORY OF THOSE/ FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO DIED IN THE/ WORLD WAR 1939 - 1945. (NAMES)".
* a brass wall-mounted plaque inscribed "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/ LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. TO THE IMPERISHABLE MEMORY OF THOSE/ MEN OF CORBRIDGE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ DURING THE EUROPEAN WAR 1914 - 1918/ "IN SURE AND CERTAIN HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION TO ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH/ OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST".
* lectern inscribed in thanks by C and G Bradley for their safe return from active service. (20)(21)(22)

Listed. (23a-b)