CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST

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DESCRIPTION

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Norman church, rebuilt 1850-1, incorporating part of the original north wall. Plan comprises nave, central tower, north transept and chancel. Built of sandstone rubble with slate roofs. In 1143, the church was used as a fortress by an usurping Bishop, William Comyn, who had a defensive ditch dug around it. During the Second World War the tower was used as an observation post against enemy bombers.

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[NZ 26223146] St. John's Church [TU] (1)

The Church of St. John, Merrington, has a tower springing from the centre of the nave on two Norman arches. In 1143-4 the church was defended by William Cumyn and a ditch was dug round it. No trace of the ditch remains. (2)

The Norman chancel at Merrington Church was probably destroyed when William Cumin defended the church. The present chancel is of more recent date than the tower. See AO/59/72/3. (3)

The Church at Kirk Merrington was entirely taken down in 1850 and a new church erected. (4)

No indication of the 12th century earthwork is now visible. Norman arches still remain built into the 19th century fabric of the
church. (5)

NZ 263315. "William Cumin built a vallum round the church in 1144". (a) (6)

Grade A. (7)

Parish church; 1850-1851 rebuilding by George Pickering of Norman church, incorporating part of original north wall. Sandstone rubble, most roughly coursed and squared, with ashlar plinth (except for chancel) and quoins and dressings. Roof graduated Lakeland slates with stone gable copings. Nave with central tower and north transept; 3-bay chancel. Norman style. Grade II*. (8)

In 1143, the church was used as a fortress by an usurping Bishop, William Comyn, who had a defensive ditch dug around it. During the Second World War the tower was used as an observation post against enemy bombers. Listed by Cathcart King. (9, 10)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1923

( 2) General reference

Hist of Durham 3, 1823, 279-84 (R Surtees)

( 3) General reference

Archit Ants of Durham 1846, 56 (Illus) (RW Billings)

( 4) General reference

Guide to Durham 1892 528 (JR Boyle)

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F1 FDC 18-MAY-59

( 6a) General reference

Symeon of Durham 2 316

( 6) by Derek Renn 1973 Norman castles in Britain

Page(s)242

( 7) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

DOE (HHR) Spennymoor UD Jan 1950 1

(8) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

District of Sedgefield, 14-Jun-1988

(9) by David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands. Volume I : Anglesey - Montgomery

Page(s)139

(10) World Wide Web page

http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/kirkmerrington

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