St Dominic's Church, Newcastle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Dominic's Church |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 54°58′27″N 1°35′52″W / 54.9742°N 1.5979°W | |
| OS grid reference | NZ258644 |
| Location | Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | StDominicsCatholicChurch.org.uk |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Dominic's Priory Church |
| Dedication | Saint Dominic |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 17 December 1971 |
| Architect(s) | Archibald Matthias Dunn |
| Groundbreaking | 1869 |
| Completed | 11 September 1873 |
| Construction cost | £15,000 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Newcastle City |
| Diocese | Hexham and Newcastle |
St Dominic's Church is a beautiful Roman Catholic church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It was once known as St Dominic's Priory Church. Building started in 1869, and it first opened its doors in 1873. This church was started by a group called the Dominican Order, who are a type of Catholic religious community. You can find it on New Bridge Street, near the Manors railway station, in the Ouseburn area of Newcastle. A famous architect named Archibald Matthias Dunn designed it. Today, it's a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical place.
Contents
History of St Dominic's Church
How the Church Began
Long, long ago, in 1239, another church called Blackfriars, Newcastle upon Tyne was built in Newcastle by the Dominican Order. But in 1536, during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries, that old building was torn down.
Many years later, in 1860, the Dominicans came back to Newcastle. By 1863, they bought the land where St Dominic's Church now stands. Guess what? This spot was actually part of the famous Hadrian's Wall! It was on the eastern side, between two old Roman forts called Pons Aelius (which is Newcastle) and Segedunum (which is Wallsend).
Building the Church
The first stone for St Dominic's Church was laid in 1869. This was a big moment! On September 11, 1873, a very important person named Cardinal Manning officially opened the church.
Building the church cost about £15,000, which was a lot of money back then! Archibald Matthias Dunn was the architect who designed this amazing building. Experts say it was built in a special style that mixes Romanesque and Gothic designs.
An interesting fact: the altar inside St Dominic's Church came from an even older church. It was from the first Roman Catholic chapel in Newcastle after a big change called the Reformation. That old church was later taken down and rebuilt somewhere else.
In 1887, a building called St Dominic's Priory was built right next to the church. This priory was also designed by Archibald Matthias Dunn, working with Edward Joseph Hansom. The priory is also a Grade II listed building, just like the church.
Changes and Additions Over Time
Over the years, some cool things were added to the church.
- In 1883, a special musical instrument called the Father Willis Organ was installed.
- In 1895, some beautiful stalls (special seats for the choir) were brought to St Dominic's Church. These stalls were made in 1827 and originally came from Peterborough Cathedral. They were designed by Edward Blore and carved by Francis Ruddle.
- In 1956, an upper chapel, known as the Hogg Chapel, was added to the church.
In 2004, the St Dominic's Priory building was given to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Later, in 2016, the Dominicans announced they would be leaving Newcastle. They finally left in 2020. Then, in September 2021, a new group of priests called the Jesuits arrived. They now use St Dominic's Church as a base for their work in the city.
The Church Community
St Dominic's Church is part of a group of churches in the city centre. It works together with St Mary's Cathedral and St Andrew's Church. If you want to attend a Mass at St Dominic's Church, they have services on Saturday at 5:30pm, and on Sunday at 10:00am and 7:00pm.
