About Us

The beautiful 12th-century church of the Augustinian priory of Brinkburn was re-roofed and restored in the nineteenth century.  Dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, it is generally known simply as Brinkburn Priory.  Its role as a pre-reformation Augustinian priory is covered in more detail in the page on What was Brinkburn Priory?

Picturesquely set by a bend in the River Coquet, it is reached by a scenic 10-minute walk from the car park. Following the Dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, stone from the priory buildings were plundered by the new owner for incorporation into the adjacent manor house.   By the nineteenth century the buildings were in a sad state, with no roofs and only the main walls standing, as seen in paintings by JMW Turner, which can be seen at https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/turner-brinkburn-priory-tw0857#3, and https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/turner-brinkburn-priory-northumberland-tw0845.   It was in the Victorian era that the main priory building was restored

The priory is in the care of English Heritage, but is part of the Church of England parish of Longframlington with Brinkburn.  With only a very small local population, the building is used mostly for occasional services, generally on special occasions such as Ascension Day, as well as marriages and blessings.  In addition the priory is alive with children for a week each June for the annual LifePath event, when children from schools across Northumberland come to learn about one of our Northumbrian saints, and to consider the paths they will follow in their own lives.  Who knows, some of them may be so inspired by their LifePath experience that future generations will visit Brinkburn to remember their special lives.

With wonderful acoustics, the Priory is also the venue for a variety of concerts of both sacred and secular music, including a programme of weekend performances by a wide variety of Northumbrian amateur musicians.  Contact the English Heritage site representative for details of upcoming events.

The parish of Longframlington with Brinkburn is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO). The Diocese of Newcastle’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) who advises our PSO. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the DSA. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services.