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
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 Frosterly 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.