Editing Wilfrid (section)

=== Builder and artistic patron ===
Wilfrid built a church capable of accommodating a congregation of 2,000 at Hexham, using stone from [[Hadrian's Wall]].<ref name=Brown362 /> The 12th-century writer [[Ailred of Rievaulx]], whose family helped restore Hexham, credited Wilfrid as the designer of a church beautifully embellished with paintings and sculpture.<ref name=Dodwell92>Dodwell ''Anglo-Saxon Art'' pp. 92 and 275 footnote 38</ref><ref name=Gilbert81>Gilbert "Saint Wilfrid's Church at Hexam" ''Saint Wilfrid at Hexham'' p. 81</ref> It appears that the churches at Hexham and Ripon (which Wilfrid also built) were aisled [[basilica]]s, of the type that was common on the continent. Ripon was the first church in Northumbria to incorporate a ''[[porticus]]'', similar to those of churches in Kent.<ref name=Farmer45>Farmer "Saint Wilfrid" ''Saint Wilfrid at Hexham'' p. 45</ref> 12th-century pilgrims' accounts declared that the church at Hexham rivalled those of Rome.<ref name=DNB /> The crypts at both Ripon and Hexham are unusual, and perhaps were intended by Wilfrid to mimic the [[Catacombs of Rome|Roman catacombs]] which he had seen on his travels.<ref name=DNB /> They are still extant, although the fabric of Wilfrid's churches above ground has been replaced by later structures. The churches were finished with glazed windows, made by glassmakers brought over from the continent.<ref name=Making259>Kirby ''Making of Early England'' p. 259</ref>

As well as his building projects Wilfrid also commissioned works to embellish the churches, including altar cloths made of silk woven with gold threads, and a [[gospel book]] written on [[purple parchment|parchment dyed purple]], with gold lettering. The gospels were then enclosed in a gold book cover set with gems. When the church he had built at Ripon was consecrated, a three-day feast was held to accompany the ceremony.<ref name=Barbarian175 />{{efn|The book, which was given to Ripon, does not survive.<ref name=World228>Blair ''World of Bede'' p. 228</ref>}}