Aycliffe was the site of Church councils (‘synods’) in 782 and 788, which in this period were usually held in the open air and not inside churches.
The church at Aycliffe has some sections of wall dating to the 10th or early 11th century, as well as many sculpted crosses of the same date, some showing scenes of the CrucifixionCrucifixion Execution by nailing or binding to a cross. Used frequently in the Roman Empire. The crucifixion of Jesus, recorded in all four Gospels, is believed by Christians to have made salvation available to humankind, animals, and saints. It is often said that the original dedication of the church was to St Acca, the chaplain of St Wilfrid, although there is no medieval evidence for this and it may be a later myth. References: Taylor and Taylor, Anglo-Saxon Architecture, vol. 1, p. 34.