The See of Hexham became extinct in 826, and for the next thirty years or so the episcopal government of the province was administered by the Bishops of Lindisfarne — Heathured from 821 to 830, Egfrid from 830 to 845, and Eanberht from 845 to 854. In the year 854, when the Sees, of Lindisfarne and York were vacant by the deaths of their respective Bishops — Eanberht of Lindisfarne and Wigmund of York, an opportunity was taken by Ceolnott, Archbishop of Canterbury (830–870), of readjusting the boundaries of both dioceses. The Bishopric of Hexham was then divided between the two surviving Sees. York received that part lying between the Tees and Tyne, and Lindisfarne administered the lands between Tyne and Aln, including the regality of Hexham — the old Hexhamshire (the parishes of Hexham, Allendale, and St John Lee). On the removal of the See of Lindisfarne to Chester-le-street in 883, the lands betwixt Tyne and Tees were severed from York, and added to it. About the year 1084 the lands in Hexham regality were separated from the See of Durham and added to York, in the jurisdiction of which See they remained until 1837 when they were added to the See of Durham, from whence they were transferred in 1882 to the See of Newcastle.
From the extinction of the See of Hexham in 820 to the removal of the See of Chester-le-street to Durham in 995, we have no record of any priests, &c., holding office at Hexham, though it is evident there must have been some clerical official to administer to the Spiritual wants of the inhabitants for some portion of that time, During the eleventh Century, however, we have records of provosts or bailiffs, who were appointed by the Bishops of Durham to take charge of the administration of the lands in Hexham regality, and of priests who attended to the Spiritual needs of the inhabitants of the town. The priests of Hexham not only married and had children like their lay brethren, but the son followed the father in the regular order of succession. Between the years 1020 and 1138 three hereditary priests held the Church of Hexham, as follows: —
ALURED, Circa 1020–1041. He was the son of Weston, and probably a descendant of Eilaf Tod, one of the bearers of the body of St Cuthbert during the wanderings of Bishop Eardulf of Lindisfarne from 875 to 883; was Sacrist of Durham, 1020–1041, and a great collector of the relics of Saints; resided chiefly at Durham, his duties at Hexham being performed by deputy priests, named Gamel Elde and Gamel Junge, i.e. Gamel, senior, and Gamel, junior — apparently father and son. By his wife, a sister of Collan II, Provost of Hexham (1042–1056) he had three sons — Eilaf, who succeeded him at Hexham, Hemming, who was Priest of Brancepeth in 1055, and Ulkill, who was Priest of Sedgfield in 1085.
EILAF, Circa 1050–1086. He was the eldest son of Alured, first hereditary priest of Hexham (1020–1041); was appointed by Egelric, Bishop of Durham, as Priest of Hexham about 1050, and held the living under his successor Bishop Egelwin (1056–1071); was also Treasurer of Durham 1050–1083; resided at Durham, and his duties at Hexham were performed by a deputy priest named Sproh 1050–1083; obtained not liking the reforms of William de St Carilef, Bishop of Durham, in substituting regular canons for the secular clergy Eilaf proceeded to York in 1083, placed his Church at Hexham under the control of Thomas I, Archbishop of York, submitted to a fresh appointment, and obtained permission to rebuild the Church at Hexham which had been destroyed by the Danes in 875; removed from Durham to Hexham in 1083, where owing to the desolate state of the district, he was obliged to support himself and his family for two years by hunting (1083–1085); commenced to repair St Andrew's Church, Hexham, but had only got the East end restored when he died about 1086. On account of his scholarly attainments, he bore the honourable title of Lareow or Doctor. By his marriage he had two sons, Eilaf, who succeeded him at Hexham, and Aldred, first shrine-keeper at Hexham, and then a canon there.
EILAF, appointed 1086; died 1138. He was the elder son of Eilaf, second hereditary priest of Hexham (1050–1086); succeeded his father as Priest of Hexham, 1086; completed the restoration of St Andrew's Church, Hexham, 1096 (?); translated the relics of the Hexham Saints into the Church, and appointed his younger brother, Aldred, as shrinekeeper of Hexham, 1096; surrendered a portion of his Hexham endowments to Thomas II, Archbishop of York, in 1113, on his re-establishing a monastery at Hexham, and assisted the new canons in the erection of wooden conventual buildings. On the completion of the foundation of Hexham Priory in 1114 by Thurstan, Archbishop of York, Eilaf became simply parish priest of Hexham.