St Maurice’s Church, Eglingham

St Maurice’s Church at Eglingham in Northumberland is a pretty, old church, but one which has been much damaged and therefore much repaired. As well as the usual interference sustained from well-meaning Reformers, puritans and Victorians, a Scottish Presbyterian army appeared in 1648 and well-nigh knocked it down, just about leaving the tower intact. Unhappy with the Church of England’s continued use of bishops, General Leslie and his countrymen saw fit to wreck and impair English churches within reach of their borders. To any Scotsman or North American reading this who only thinks of English armies vexing Scotland, take note.

Although the damage was made good, there is little within which is of an ancient heritage; the font is seventeenth-century and bears some peculiar, and largely unintelligible carvings, but otherwise, all is plain and unremarkable. An ordinary-looking church it is, but with a violent and dangerous history -which it has survived.

People who look ‘normal’ and appear common have often gone through terrible trials and difficulties. Perhaps you are one of them. You put on a brave face and have overcome as best you can that appalling experience or dreadful suffering: an illness, abuse, chemotherapy, a loveless marriage. To the untrained eye, you are just another, very ordinary person, but you know you have done well just to get out of bed and hold down a job. What others cannot see, God knows; that which demands incredible strength and persevrreance on your part, God will support and sustain.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. Psalm 28:7