A volunteer at Hexham Abbey has offered a glimpse into the work of the stewards and shop volunteers who welcome visitors, answer questions and help bring the historic building to life.
Writing for Hexham Abbey, volunteer Malcolm Thompson said the role provides flexible opportunities, with people able to choose the hours and days that suit them. Volunteers can take the same shift each week or respond when additional cover is needed.
Flexible volunteering at Hexham Abbey
The Abbey uses WhatsApp to communicate with its volunteer team. That means people who are available at short notice can respond to requests when the team is short-staffed and take an unscheduled shift.
Stewards work in pairs or groups of three, according to Thompson. This gives volunteers someone to turn to if a visitor asks a question they cannot answer, while also helping new team members gain confidence in the role.
The work offers the chance to learn more about Hexham Abbey and its history, as well as meet visitors from across the UK and from overseas. Thompson said visitors are often struck by the scale and history of the church in a small Northumberland town.
What visitors can discover
Some visitors arrive expecting the Abbey to be a ruin because many former abbeys are. Instead, they find a working church with notable architecture, historic artefacts and chantry chapels.
The Abbey continues to hold services on most days of the week and has an active congregation. Visitors also have access to the Abbey café and shop, which offers a wide range of merchandise and gifts.
The shop is managed by Sally and supported by volunteers. Anyone interested in helping there can visit the shop and ask to speak to her, while people who simply want to browse can find a broad selection of items to buy.
Benefits for volunteers
Volunteers who steward or work in the shop receive a discount in both the shop and the café, in addition to the experience of meeting visitors and learning about the building.
Thompson’s article was published by Hexham Abbey on 27 October 2026. It presents volunteering as a way to contribute to the Abbey’s visitor welcome while working flexible hours in a historic setting.