St James
Alnwick, Northumberland
It is believed that St James was founded in Pottergate in 1689, as there is an old pewter alms dish inscribed with that date.
A mid-nineteenth century church designed for the 3rd Duke of Northumberland by Anthony Salvin, who was responsible for significant restoration work to Alnwick and Warkworth castles as well as designing new country houses and 38 churches, including St. Paul's.
Completed in 1846, it was built to increase capacity for the Anglican Church in Alnwick. It was acquired by the Catholic Church in the 1980’s as their existing church was insufficient to accommodate the growing congregation.
Internal re-ordering was carried out by Ashington-born Architect Jack Lynn, who designed a number of Catholic churches, but was most famous for his part in the brutalist design of Park Hill flats in Sheffield. The church is an important landmark; the tower is visible from a number of approaches to Alnwick and appears to be the main church as the medieval church tower is low and barely seen.