Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Branxton

Local tradition has it that the church’s dedication should be to St Paulinus, who spread the Christian faith in the Glendale area in the 7th century, rather than St Paul. Towards the end of the 12th century the church was given to the monks of Durham in a grant confirmed by the king in 1195. It is likely that the church would have suffered in the long running border wars between the Scots and the English that culminated with the tragic battle of Flodden, that was fought right next to the church. After the battle the bodies of the slain James IV and many nobles were brought to the church Most of the present building dates from 1849 when the church was rebuilt in the neo-Norman style. The oldest parts of the church are the 12th century chancel arch (rebuilt in the 13th century in the pointed form) and some areas of walling at a low level.

The Battle of Flodden took place here on September 9, 1513. The battle ended with a crushing defeat for the Scots and the death of the Scottish king James IV. England was involved in a major conflict and fought on the side of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and Pope Julius II against France. James IV took advantage of Henry VIII's absence and declared war on England. James marched into England with an army. When he reached the battlefield, the strength of his troops totalled around 30,000 men. The Scots faced an English army of roughly equal strength. The much better trained English artillery drove the Scottish artillerymen from the field. The English cannons and archers then concentrated their fire on the Scottish pikemen. The heavy losses tempted the Scots to charge down the hill to get the English within range. In the bloody battle, the Scots were finally surrounded and routed. James IV, many high-ranking nobles and over 10,000 soldiers were killed. The English losses are estimated at between 1000 and 1500 men.