Doddington

The parish church of St Mary and St Michael lies to the south-west of the village of Doddington, just off the old Drove Road. A very simple stone church with a small bell cote.  Until 1870 the church was a chapel of Chatton; it is virtually unique in that its orientation is the reverse of normal, with the chancel being at the west end and the baptistery at the east. Whether or not this is an original arrangement is unclear. Evidence that part of the original church building date from the 12 Century, however there was major rebuilding in 19th century.
A small Watch House in the south east corner was built in 1825 to prevent the activities of body snatchers who engaged in providing bodies for dissection to Scottish surgeons.

Kirknewton

The church of St Gregory the Great, set amongst the Cheviot Hills serves one of the most sparsely populated parishes in England.  The earliest recorded incumbent was Stephen, priest from 1153 – 1197, however, the proximity of Saxon King Edwin’s Summer Palace (Ad Gefrin), where St Paulinus is said to have performed mass baptisms in the River Glen in 627AD hints at a Christian presence from this time.

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