The official title of our
parish church is
The Parish Church of
St John The Divine
Acklington
but it is often referred to locally as St John's Church.

All denominations (and those of no particular faith) are very welcome to visit the church and join in with the services and celebrations. Sunday School for children takes place every fortnight during school term times.

The hymn book that is used for the vast majority of services in the church is the very popular 'Anglican Hymns Old & New'.

      

There are 858 hymns and worship songs in the book making it one of the most comprehensive collections available.  It contains a vibrant mix of favourite traditional hymns and the best of the new worship songs.



John Davison has played the church organ for services for the past 38 years.  John says,

"For each service we always try to select a good balance of hymns…
* usually at least a couple from
  the suggested list for each
  Sunday,
* often an old traditional
   favourite,
* often a more modern hymn,
* occasionally a children’s
   hymn,
* occasionally a new hymn.

Hopefully there are always hymns to please everyone."
 

The church was erected in 1861 and is one of the largest buildings in the parish. The stones of which the church is built were tooled and dressed within the walls of Alnwick Castle. All the woodwork was also prepared there. For this is one of the churches built by Algernon, fourth Duke of Northumberland, in the last few years of his life. When the stones were ready, and the woodwork was fashioned, masons and joiners were sent from the castle works to Acklington to set them in their appointed places. The Duke & Duchess were present at the consecration which was performed by the Lord Bishop of Durham.

    
 
Both the church and the old vicarage were built from the designs of Mr. James Deason. The church is in the early English style and is a fine Victorian Gothic building with a plain exterior and an unexpectedly pleasing interior. Some good modern woodwork includes an altar and reredos and communion rails, given as memorials to various members of the Milburn family of Guyzance. 

   

The oak Lych Gate itself is very attractive and interesting.  It was opened in 1921 as a war memorial dedicated in honour of those from this district who took part in the Great War 1914 - 1918.  There was quite a ceremony which was attended by His Grace the Duke of Northumberland. The Lych Gate was renovated on the occasion of the coronation of Queen. 

You can read a fuller version of the history of the church by clicking on the book below.

  

Housed in the church of St. John The Divine, Acklington, are the four ancient relics pictured below. 



The sanctus bell came from the old Brainshaugh Priory.  It is thought this was the bell that the nuns rang to signify a death in Guyzance village - and it was frequently used during the great plague of 1349 which killed off two thirds of the local population.  The bell survived the plague (although it has been fitted with another handle at a later date) but the priory and its inhabitants never recovered and the buildings fell into ruin.


The second picture above shows a mortar which has also come from the priory.  It was used in the preparation of food.  The frog like picture below is in fact a 16th century breastplate of Italian design which was ploughed up not far from the priory. 



the final picture shows the Acklington Warrior Stone which was discovered in the garden of the Old Vicarage.



There is still considerable mystery around the Acklington Warrior Stone and its discovery.  It is believed to be linked to the famous medieval Lindisfarne Warrior Stone which was found on Holy Island.

More can be read about the Warrior Stone on the history pages of this website.  Just click the "Pelican" link below and you can get more of the story.

    

C

CLERGY

CHURCHWARDENS

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (PCC)

PARISH PROFILE OF 2017

CHURCH NEWS AND NOTICES

BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

Members of Acklington Church need to raise substantial funds each year in order to meet their expenditure, including: - paying their parish share (quota); - maintaining and heating the large   church building; - upkeep of churchyard; - insurance payments; - charity giving; - missionary work. Fundraising events are usually well supported and varied in their nature.  Over recent years, the following fund-raising events have taken place: Cream Teas / Soup Kitchens / Coffee Mornings / Table Top Sales / Wine & Cheese Evenings / Sponsored Slims / Art Evenings / Harvest Suppers / Alnwick Fair Stalls / Steeplechases / Christmas Fairs / Harvest Bounty Days / Summer Fairs / Musical Concerts / Sponsored Walks/ Barbecues / 100 Club / Winter Warmer Lunches / Auctions / Pudding Club Evening / Quizzes The posters below show some of this year's fund-raising activities:

FUNDRAISING EVENTS DURING 2018...

PICTURE GALLERY

THE DIOCESE AND THE DEANERY