Records of St Aidan’s Church held at Woodhorn Archive

The following group of historical insights have been compiled by the wonderful Bamburgh Bones volunteer researcher Carol Griffith. Carol delights in scouring archives and ancient documents to gather information about Bamburgh and it’s impressive castle through the ages.

Taken from the records of St Aidan’s church held at Woodhorn Archive

• Rev Medd, vicar in 1884, discovered an old Register in church – the Burial Register from 1670-1682- had it rebound on 24 December 1884. It contains the names of all the Church Wardens as well as Burials
• A spitting box was purchased for 16 shillings in 1775
• The last person to do public penance in church for fornication was a woman on 24 October 1779
• On 24 September 1823, a bill was circulated advertising for tenders for the Flagging of St Aidan’s Church -80-90 sq yards; also taking up and relaying the other part of the flagging with the old Flags. The new Flags to be 2ft sq and 5inches thick. Proposals to Mr Nairns of Waren Mills Church Warden
• In September 1824 there was a row over the number of pews in church for public use, as opposed to those let out to private individuals. Eleven pews were sold raising 85.11.0
• In 1884 the Crypt was opened out and surrounded by a stone wall and steps, from the north east
• A notice to Visitors advertised that access to the Chancel and Crypt was available by applying to Miss Carr, Caretaker and Cleaner of the Church – Rev Medd, Vicar
• The memorial to Dr Sharp and the Sharp family, was originally sited in the Chancel, to the site near the original Hoppen Porch
• In 1837 an undated paper was discovered in the helmet of Ferdinando Forster by Miss Carr

Prayer and Blessing to God to you and your wife your son Dawson and his wife hopeing these few lines will find you well in good health at present praise to God for it. I have it to testifie….I have sent you some hoseyarn and a yard of….and I desire you to send some money for….of better…comes to ten shillings for having to… Money for my husband left me betwixt five….to pay when he died and I do intend a deed of all…I am of….

How did it get there? Was it used as padding? Ferdinando died in 1701

• The church was repaired, plaster and whitewash removed, the Chancel Screen of oak erected, and the Gallery removed in 1852. In 1853 the pulpit of Caen stone was erected
• The church was lit by candles only until 1900 when gas was installed. Electricity was used from April 1935 at the expense of Mrs Thorp
• In 1900 the Tower roof was damaged by fire
• In 1924 Queen Mary visited Bamburgh Castle and Church. An entry by the Vicar confirms that she also visited the Crypt and Grace Darling’s Tomb