The Rector for All Hallows, Goodmanham is Reverend Robert Stone, who can be contacted at robertstone1965@gmail.com
Our church is open daily but if you visit whilst the church is locked, keys are available from Susan Fisher, Churchwarden on 07715 476373 or Catherine Hammond, Lay Reader on 07791 542377.Between the Festivals of Easter and Harvest, a service of Holy Communion is held on the second and fourth Sunday’s at 9am. In winter, the service is held on the fourth Sunday of the month at 9am.
The site of All Hallows, has been a known place of worship for over 1500 years. In around AD627 a dramatic moment that shaped the story of the North of England, occurred in Goodmanham at the site of the current church. According to the historian Bede, the main Pagan Temple serving King Edwin’s court, in what was then Northumberland, was deliberately destroyed following his conversion to Christianity. In a powerful act of change, Coifi, the King’s own High Priest, cast a spear into the shrine before it was burned to the ground. King Edwin, his Council and Coifi were Baptised by St Paulinus in what is now York Minster. Following its destruction, a simple, wooden Christian church was built on the site of the Temple. The church you see today was built in AD1130, with a simple nave and chancel. It is a fine example of an early Norman period church. The tower is thought to have been built in 1180 and in 1200 the nave was enlarged when the north aisle was added.
We have two fonts, one is elaborate with carvings, inscribed with the Magnificat, and thought to have been built between 1522 to 1555. Whilst the simpler, earlier font is thought to be 9th Century and was lost to the church and found again in a nearby farmer’s field being used as a watering trough. The church was restored by the architect Temple Moore between 1894 and 1900 which included the restoration and creation of new stained-glass windows. The windows reflect the church’s long history and include images of King Edwin, his wife Ethelburga, High Priest Coifi, the Venerable Bede, St James the Deacon and St Paulinus. The modern Millennium window vibrantly illustrates Goodmanham’s spiritual and pastoral heritage.