Facilities and features
Accessibility
There is a toilet just inside the church door which is also accessible.
The entrance to the church has a ramp.
Assistance dogs are permitted within the church.
The church is accessible for moblity scooters and wheelchairs but they can't reach all areas of the church e.g. there is a step up from the nave into the Chancel.
Our Building
There are several stained glass windows in the church. In the Chancel there are windows dedicated to St Aidan, St Oswald, St Cuthbert and St Bede which show aspects of their lives. On entering the church you see a window depicting St Hilda.
All the 6 churches in our Parish have signed up for the Eco Church award scheme, meaning that:
"We recognise and teach that creation care and action to address the climate and nature
crises are integral to Christian faith, life and worship. We are committed to responding
to this by participating in the A Rocha UK Eco Church award scheme".
All 6 churches have gained Bronze Eco Church Awards and are now working towards Silver Awards.
Music and Worship
The bell ringers meet on a Friday evening to practice
There are occasional concerts which take place in the church and during the annual Rothbury Folk Festival.
The present organ was given by Lord Armstrong and the rector, Rev. C.G.V. Harcourt in 1866. It was built by Hill and Sons of London in 1866, a company that operated in London from 1862 to 1917 before becoming Hill, Norman and Beard. When installed, it was sited at the west end of the church. Its precise location is not known but it may be assumed from the design of the instrument that the organist would sit with his back to the congregation. Playing while trying to control the choir at the east end of the church at the same time must have been extremely difficult, and it is probable that the choir sat at the west end of the church at that time.
The organ was later moved to its present position, certainly earlier than 1901, and would presumably be following or at the time of building the new vestry in 1887.
It is a two manual instrument with eleven speaking stops, and has never been modified in design – it still has a flat pedal board and the swell pedal is unbalanced, being able to be notched in position as the organist wishes.
An electric blower was installed many years ago, but the handle for hand blowing the bellows is still in place should it ever be needed.
Groups, Courses and Activities
There is a Bible Study on the first Monday of month which takes place in the Parish Rooms, adjacent to the Church. It starts at 2pm and lasts an hour.
There is a coffee morning on the second Saturday of every month. All are welcome.
Messy Church takes place on the third Sunday of the month at 4pm in the Parish Rooms, adjacent to the church. It finishes around 5pm, sharing food and drink.
The Upper Coquetdale Branch of the Mothers' Union meets, usually, on the 3rd Monday of the month at 2pm. The venue varies.
Help for Visitors
There is a small card stall in the church.