Washington’s Holy Trinity Church towers over the village like a medieval castle 🤩

Funnily enough, given its location it’s often mooted as being sited on a prehistoric enclosure, pagan temple, or a place of other spiritual significance. What we do know is that a church has sat here since at least the 12th century, though probably the Saxon era. In the 1110s it was part of Rannulf Flambard’s extensive lands. He also built Norham Castle on the Scottish borders, St Giles at Durham and countless others in his possession as Bishop of Durham.

The area changed hands over the centuries and the church underwent significant remodelling too. The Biddick family paid for a chantry in the 13th century, though this has all since vanished when our friends John & Benjamin Green make an appearance yet again. John and Benjamin designed some of the North East's most renowned buildings and are modestly overshadowed by contemporaries like Dobson. The original church had two side aisles, a large south porch and a very typical medieval tower. The nave 18 paces long also.

The original church had two side aisles, a large south porch and a very typical medieval tower. The nave 18 paces long also.

In 1832 the (possibly) Saxon church was demolished thanks to supposed structural insecurity. John Green designed the new church, and was opened in the year after at a cost of £1000. What we see today is partly that construction as well as subsequent renovations in the 1880s and the 20th century.

The old lords of Washington, and henceforth George Washington’s ancestors, are buried here. A member of the Knights Templar, Jacobus Sanderson, is also reputedly buried here.