Birtley

The Benefice of Chollerton wbesite [http://www.chollerton-churches.org.uk/birtley.asp] [accessed 19 January 2010] notes: "The original stone church in Birtley, Northumberland was erected on the present site by the Umfravilles, Lords of Prudhoe and 'Keepers of Redesdale' and consecrated in 1090. There are, however, indications of an earlier wooden Saxon church, probably dating from the 7th century […] Birtley church was 'coarsely rebuilt for present use' in 1723 but it was to be 1883-4 before there was a major renovation of the structure and fittings of the church. This has preserved some of the church's Early Norman features - the priest's door in the south wall of the chancel (over which the stones of the original east window of the Norman church have been inserted); the Piscina in the south wall of the sanctuary; the Aumbrey in its north wall; the Chancel Arch with its hatchet dressed moulding; and the massive Font bowl". The basin is hemispherical and plain, except for a part of the underbowl where it now has a scalloped pattern that may be the left-over of the original base; the present base consists of a cylindrical stem and a two-volume square lower base. The wooden cover is round and flat; appears modern.