St Mary the Virgin
Seaham, County Durham
'One of the finest small churches in the country dating back to the 7th/8th century' according to E Fernie.
St Andrew's, built in 1155AD, nestles in the dale with an ambience that gives a peaceful feeling to all who enter.
Dalton le Dale, County Durham
St Andrew's, as you walk up the path on the south side you pass a small window and door this was the lepers door where they could listen to the service, above the porch there is an ancient weather sundial this told the time by the sea tides, also just past the porch on the south side built into the stone is an Anglo Saxon sword.
Coming inside the church through the main large door, which is believed to be the original door with its heavy metal lock and key, which still works today. Standing in the centre at the back of the church is the font which is also very old, above the font there is a gallery and below a kitchen and toilet added to the church in 2011.
Facing the altar lighting the nave you can see 11 stained glass windows, three of them are above the altar forming a picture together. On the north side of the nave opposite the main door there is a Norman doorway, which on the outside is very impressive. As you walk down the nave on the north wall you will see a second sundial showing Roman numerals to record the 7 (VII) hour in the morning to 1(XIII) in the afternoon, it is understood that these numerals were highlighted by a stream of light coming through an opening in the roof over the middle window on the south wall.
Passing through the screen on your right is the organ which when played the sound is so overwhelming. Opposite the organ on the north side stands the tomb and effigy of Sir William Bowes Lyon an ancestor of the late Queen Mother, the effigy of his wife Lady Mathilda lies in the north wall in the nave. Also in the north wall alongside the tomb is the vestry door the vestry was added in the late 16th century along with the porch. St Andrew's is mentioned in Bede's History of the English Church.
Seaham, County Durham
'One of the finest small churches in the country dating back to the 7th/8th century' according to E Fernie.
Easington, County Durham
A 12th century Grade I listed building with a historic place in the Durham diocesan history.
Houghton le Spring, Tyne & Wear
This stunning ancient parish church is a place of revelation, hope and encounter where you will find 1000 years of Christianity and 4000 years of human history.