Pre-history
Persons from the 7th Century
Persons from the Middle Ages
Some lesser mortals from the Middle Ages
Prior
Thomas de Melsonby
Local Rhyme
Booklets
The rhyme - St Abb - St Helen - St Bey
St Helen's on the lea
The dedication should refer to St Helen who was the mother of Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor.
However there is another tortuous explanation. The local name is not Helen but Elen. It is said that in the Coldingham charters kept at Durham there are references to the Church at Auldcambus, but no references to the Church of St. Helen. It appears that it was only in the mid 17th C that the name 'the Church of St Helen' started to be used.[It is assumed that in the Middle Ages the settlement of Auldcambus was near to the Church, then later with a change in road line the village moved to maintain its road-side position.]
Elen was an ancient 'Celtic' goddess of armies and routes. Near to Auldcambus is Siccar Point. 'Siccar' signifies 'safety'. It is possible that in the past there was a special feature, perhaps a stone or well, beside the road where the traveller could either ask for or give thanks for a safe journey. But what was the danger? Going back in time, Coldingham Moor was not enclosed, nor was it drained. Then the traveller from the south crossed the most barb'rous Country in the World. The moors were bleak and barren, not even a sheep was to be seen, and scattered about were the rotting stumps of dead trees. Worse, and even on the hills, there were bogs which could swallow a horse and rider never to seen again. Little wonder that the ancient traveller on coming off the Moor and reaching Auldcambus felt safe and gave thanks.
The existence of a hospital at Auldcambus about the year 1200 has been documented. This could have been a further factor adding to the security of the traveller here.
If there had been an old pagan site at Auldcambus then it is quite possible that its first church would have been built near it but the dedication to a pagan saint would have been unlikely. Perhaps in the 17th C someone mistook 'Elen' for 'Helen' but the local vernacular stuck to its heritage.
The ruins of the kirk of St Helen at Auldcambus are to be seen clearly today, and a stone built into the inside of the standing gable shows chevron marks. The present ruin must be of a church built in place of a Norman church. The grave markers are old and some interesting (although the present owner has shown them little consideration). There is one 11th C. hogback stone.