St Mungo's Church, Simonburn. Photo by Northumberland County Council, 2004.

[NY 8708 7357] St Mungo's Church. (1)

Mostly rebuilt between 1763-1877 but retaining a few medieval features. In the porch is a fragment of a 9th century cross found during restorations. See G.Ps. AO/56/279/3. (2)

There are two Anglian cross fragments at Simonburn [church]. Collingwood thinks they are from a single cross (see his reconstruction fig.43), which he dates mid-9th century; a late example of the Hexham School. (3)

The church is in normal use. Built into the porch are two fragments of a cross; they are part of a shaft and the boss, or centre pat of a cross head (as illustrated by Collingwood (3)). (4)

Parish church. 13th century; aisles rebuilt 1763 by Robert and William Newton; chancel rebuilt 1863-4 by Anthony Salvin; nave and aisles restored and re-fenestrated and porch added 1875-7 by R J Johnson. Buttressed aisles with fragments of 13th century chamfered plinth.
Several carved stone fragments, including part of a Saxon cross shaft, are set on the inner walls of the porch. (5)

Six fragments of Anglo-Saxon crosses in St Mungo's Church, Simonburn, in the porch.
i) cross-shaft, set against west wall of porch. Part of the central portion of a shaft split in half. Each face surrounded by a fine double roll moulding. Late 8th-early 9th century;
ii) centre of cross-head, built into east wall of church porch, inside. Heavy convex boss surrounded by roll moulding. Late 8th to early 9th century;
iii) part of chamfered baluster impost or frieze, built into north wall of porch, inside. Early 8th century;
iv) part of chamfered impost, built into north wall of church porch, inside. Worn and damaged. Early 8th century;
v) Part of cross-slab(?), built into north wall of church porch, inside. ?Early 8th century;
vi) cross-slab, built into the wall of the church porch, inside. Recut but fairly unworn. Possible dedication or 'station' cross of an early stone church. 11th century.
Fragments discovered in the restoration works of 1877, when stonework above the chancel arch fell. (6)

Robert Newton and his son William Newton repaired and beautified the church in 1762. The walls were taken down to ground level and rebuilt higher than before, restoring the north and south aisles. (7)

Church includes a number of wall memorials including:
* a roll of honour inscribed "IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN/ OF THIS PARISH/ 1939-1945".
* a white marble tablet inscribed "TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN/ HONOUR OF THESE MEN OF OUR PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918./ (NAMES)/ 1939 1945/ (NAMES)".
* a brass plaque inscribed "TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THANKFUL REMEMBRNCE OF/ HENRY QUENTIN RIDLEY/ LIEUTENANT AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY FORCE,/ ELDER SON OF MUSGRAVE RIDLEY, ESQ:/ KILLED NEAR ZONNEBEKE IN FLANDERS 12TH OCTOBER 1917,/ IN HIS 35TH YEAR./ "HE WHOM THIS SCROLL COMMEMORTAES WAS NUMBERED AMONG THOSE WHO/ AT THE CALL OF KING AND COUNTRY LEFT ALL THAT WAS DEAR TO THEM ENDURED/ HARDNESS, FACED DANGER, AND FINALLY PASSED OUT OF THE SIGHT OF MEN/ BY THE PATH OF DUTY AND SELF-SACRIFICE GIVING UP THEIR OWN LIVES THAT/ OTHERS MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM. LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER SEE TO IT/ THAT HIS NAME BE NOT FORGOTTEN".
* a white marble tablet inscribed "IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ MERTRAM ALLGOOD/ CAPTAIN/ ROYAL IRISH RIFLES/ WHO FELL IN ACTION/ AT YPRES 7 DECEMBER/ 1914/ "I THANK MY GOD UPON/ EVERY REMEMBRANCE OF YOU".
* a white marble tablet inscribed "IN/ LOVING MEMORY/ OF/ CHARLES NOEL RIDLEY/ CAPTAIN, NORTHUMBERLAND YEOMANRY,/ OF PARK END,/ MORTALLY WOUNDED IN FRANCE/ ON THE 29TH SEPTEMBER/ DIED AT ST. OMER/ ON THE 7TH OCTOBER 1915,/ AGED 30/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY".
* a stained glass window inscribed "IN LOVING MMEORY OF CHARLES NOEL RIDLEY,/ CAPTAIN, NORTHUMBERLAND HUSSARS WHO DIED/ OF WOUNDS IN FRANCE 7TH OCTOBER 1915, AGED 30,/ AND IS BURIED IN THE SOUVENIR CEMETERY,/ ST OMER, THIS WINDOW IS DEDICATED./ "BE STRONG IN THE LORD". (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)