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St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool facts for kids

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Church of St Hilda, Hartlepool
HartlepoolStHildasChurch.jpg
Photograph of St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, County Durham
54°41′43″N 1°10′54″W / 54.69537°N 1.18177°W / 54.69537; -1.18177
OS grid reference NZ528336
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Architecture
Functional status Active
Heritage designation Grade I

St Hilda's Church is a very old and important church in Hartlepool, County Durham, England. It is the main church for the local area, known as the parish church. This building is so special that it is listed as a Grade I building. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in England.

You can find St Hilda's Church in the older part of Hartlepool, on a piece of land called the Headland. It stands tall and is easy to spot in the town's skyline.

A Special Building

A famous expert on churches, Alec Clifton-Taylor, thought St Hilda's was one of the "best" churches in England. He said it was a "glory" of Early English architecture. This means it shows the very first and purest style of Gothic building in England. He called it an "architectural gem," which means it's a truly beautiful and valuable building.

The Church Bells

The church tower has three large bells. These bells were made in 1819 by a company called Thomas II Mears. They were designed for something called "change ringing." This is a special way of ringing bells in a pattern.

However, these bells are not rung today. Experts believe the church tower is not strong enough to handle the movement and force from ringing them. So, the bells are still there, but they are quiet.

Find Out More

  • St Hilda's Church website
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