The tall tower with its double windows at the top is all that is left of the Saxon church. The church was consecrated in 1050 but is thought to have been built on the site of an even earlier church. The rest of the church is C13th and is cruciform with the typical tall and narrow Early English lancet windows and very large transepts. It appears a bit fussy on the outside with decorative stone crosses everywhere.
The south porch has a modern carving of Mary with the boy Jesus above the doorway. In the porch are medieval gravestones set into the walls. There is a simple Norman doorway with undecorated round arches into the church. On the wall inside the doorway is the Royal coat of arms.
Inside the church, arcades of round or octagonal pillars support pointed arches with small faces carved at the base, separate nave and side aisles. Walls are whitewashed and there is a simple wood beamed roof. It is a very plain church.
At the back of the north aisle is a round stone font on legs. The children’s corner is at the back of the south aisle.
The large transepts have a central pillar with pointed arches off it.
A pointed chancel arch leads into the chancel. On the wall is a framed icon in memory of members of the choir who fell in the Great War.
At the end of the chancel is a simple altar set beneath three tall lancet windows with C19th glass.
There is little information about the church on the web and although they have a guide book, I couldn’t find one in the church.
The outside with the Saxon tower is more interesting than the interior.
The church is open from 10-4 daily. There is some parking on the side road to the north of the church.
There are more pictures “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/north/northumberland/northumberland_two/ovingham/index.html
