As you enter the church the simple elegance of the 13th century architecture is immediately apparent. The simple, uncluttered lines, the almost square nave give a feeling of peace and sanctuary.
Ahead is the font which we believe originated from the Roman Wall. The column supporting the Font is hexagonal in shape but the basin is decorated with intricate knots and stone carvings and has the remains of fixing holes showing that at some time it had a fixed cover.
The stoup which sits against the west wall may have been used by Paulinus when he fulfilled his role as the first Christian missionary to Northumbria. It is also the oldest object in the church.
To the right lies the nave, the long chancel with its intricately carved alabaster reredos and particularly fine examples of stained glass by William Morris & Co.
It is only in 1178 that any solid reference to a church at Haltwhistle is made. Before this time we can but surmise that Aidan and Paulinus had links to Haltwhistle.
After the Battle of Heavenfield in 635 in which Oswald the Christian king of Northumbria defeated the heathen armies of Penda and Cadwallon, Aidan was sent from Iona to convert Northumbria. It is suggested that Aidan’s ministry in Haltwhistle is preserved in the place name of ‘Edens Lawn’, which lies to the west of the church, probably taken from the Celtic ‘Llan Aidan’.
The Grave covers to be found in the Sanctuary bear coats of arms of two local families, the Blenkinsopps and the Thirlwells. The Blenkinsopp grave covers contain three corn sheaves and the Thirlwell’s three boars heads.
The Reredos is the alabaster sculpture that lies behind the altar, which in this case is very fine indeed, depicting the Nativity of Christ. On either side the two figures are drawn from the Old Testament, Isaiah and King David.
Among the other interesting features of Holy Cross are stained glass by Kempe, wood carvings by Ralph Hedley and a very fine three manual forty two draw stop Makin Westmorland Organ.
Recent work carried out in the Church to improve the lighting has revealed the Christograms of the Chancel roof much more clearly.
