All Saints Church, Rothbury

A small parish church with an ancient cemetery surrounding it – right in the heart of town.
The interior is rather simple, but the little church exudes a friendly, very peaceful atmosphere. That's how it should be!
You can light a candle here for your loved ones.

The churches roots stretch back to the Anglo-Saxon era, where a church may have even predated the current structure. The building we see today rests on a foundation laid in the 13th century, incorporating the eastern part of a former monastic church. Over the centuries, the church has witnessed many transformations. In the 18th century, its interior sported distinctive features like galleries, dormer windows, and an impressive three-decker pulpit. However, these were all removed during a significant renovation undertaken in 1850. The year 1901 marked the addition of beautiful new elements – a carved oak pulpit, choir stalls, and a decorative chancel screen.The churchyard itself is a treasure trove of history. Visitors can find weathered sundials whispering tales of time, and gravestones offering glimpses into lives lived long ago. Interestingly, some of these stones date back to a time when an act, passed in the reign of Charles II, mandated the burial of corpses in woolen materials. The Armstrong family plot, located in the lower graveyard, holds the remains of prominent figures like the 1st and 2nd Barons Armstrong of Bamburgh and Cragside. Another captivating grave commemorates Walter Mavin, the legendary Coquet Angler, with a headstone depicting a serene fishing scene. Local legends weave stories of a once-grand Rothbury Castle that stood on these very grounds, overlooking the River Coquet. While no physical remains of the castle exist today, a 19th-century sketch hints at the possibility of Rothbury Hall, with its square tower, being the very same castle. This intriguing structure was ultimately demolished in the mid-1800s to make way for an extension of the churchyard. All Saints Church and its surroundings stand as a testament to the rich tapestry of Rothbury's history, waiting to be explored and admired.