Holy Cross Church, Ryton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Holy Cross Church, Ryton
54°58′40″N 1°45′56″W / 54.977861°N 1.765615°W / 54.977861; -1.765615
Location	Ryton, Tyne and Wear, NE40 3QP
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Administration
Parish	Ryton
Deanery	West Gateshead
Archdeaconry	Archdeaconry of Sunderland
Diocese	Diocese of Durham

Holy Cross Church is a Church of England parish church in Ryton, Tyne and Wear. The church is a Grade I listed building.

History

The Holy Cross church is the oldest building in Ryton and dates back to 1220. The most striking feature of the church is its 13th-century broach spire which is 36 m tall. Other well known artefacts include a 13th-century Frosterley Marble effigy of a deacon holding a book.

Notable clergy

There have been a number of prominent rectors of Ryton. These include: Thomas Secker (1727), later the Archbishop of Canterbury; Charles Thorp (1807) virtual founder and first warden of the University of Durham; and The Hon. Richard Byron (1769), brother of William Byron, 5th Baron Byron and great-uncle of Lord Byron.