St Andrew
Aycliffe Village, County Durham
St Michael's embodies an architectural history typical of the English parish church: Anglo-Saxon foundations; a Norman nave, tower and chancel; aisles of the 13th century; and sensitive reworking at the end of the 19th century.
Heighington, County Durham
The styles blend together remarkably well.
Balancing the nave and chancel, the pre-Conquest unbuttressed tower has three stages with an embattled top and gargoyles, and twin louvred openings in the top stage.
Carved Tudor poppy heads grace the chancel stalls, the rare pre-Reformation oak pulpit has six linen fold panels and an inscribed prayer, and at the base of the tower are a 14th century octagonal font, a cross slab (grave cover) with sword, and two worn 13th century female effigies.
The church's situation on the green has been much admired and is mentioned in The Anatomy of the Village, written in 1946 by Thomas Wilfrid Sharp.
Aycliffe Village, County Durham
Aycliffe, County Durham
An ancient ecclesiastical centre, collection of two Saxon crosses dating from the 9th century Saxon interior, jacobean pulpit, organ screen and pews.
Shildon, County Durham
Shildon is a railway town and railway pioneer Timothy Hackworth is buried at St John's.