St Alban
Earsdon, Tyne & Wear
A 19th century church, opened in 1837 but at least the third on the site, the earliest dating back to the 1100s and built by monks from Tynemouth.
A tiny Saxon church situated between two water sources: the sea and a dene.
It would have quietly served the community of 'Marden Dene' (now Holywell) until the invasion of 1066. The Normans and their passion for church building is reflected in the two splendid chancel arches featuring chevron and billet decoration.
It was the private chapel of the Delaval family for over 700 years.
Above the entrance is an ancient window, carved from one piece of stone for the original 14th century east window, and now filled with Victorian glass.
Inside, the church is sparse by modern standards, with stone floors, plaster walls and high backed wooden pews at either side of a central aisle. But closer inspection reveals the magnificent Norman style chancel, choir and nave, which are separated from each other by two beautiful arches, perfectly carved with the zigzag pattern typical of Norman design.
On the nave and west walls hang six funeral hatchments (coats of arms), of which there are only 50 in the whole of Northumberland. There is also a Norman piscina used for washing the communion vessels on display, and the two remaining aumbries (wall safes) show off the depth of the walls.
Even more striking, the effigies of a Delaval Crusader knight and his lady lie in the crypt beneath the altar, though he might have been part of a tomb chest that stood where the altar is now. Although they are badly damaged and worn, and retain no traces of the bright colours with which they must once have been adorned, they are powerful reminders of 900 years of history.
There is a wealth of information to impart to you from the family stories of the once patrons of Our Lady to the explanations of the symbolism used throughout the church.
Small is most definitely beautiful!