St Hilda's Church, South Shields facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Hilda's Church, South Shields |
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St Hilda's Church, South Shields
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| 54°59′47.25″N 1°26′15.81″W / 54.9964583°N 1.4377250°W | |
| OS grid reference | NZ 36105 67063 |
| Location | South Shields, Tyne and Wear |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | Church website |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Completed | 1811 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Jarrow |
| Archdeaconry | Sunderland |
| Diocese | Diocese of Durham |
St Hilda's Church in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, is a very old and important church. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its special history and architecture. This church is a parish church and is part of the Church of England.
Contents
The Church's Long History
Early Beginnings and Rebuilding
St Hilda's Church is believed to stand on a very old site. People say that a small chapel was first built here around the year 647 AD. This chapel was founded by Aidan of Lindisfarne, a famous saint. He put the chapel in the care of Hilda of Whitby, another important saint.
Over many centuries, the church changed and grew. In 1675, Robert Trollope helped to restore parts of the building. Later, in 1753, a new section called a north aisle was added.
Most of the church you see today was rebuilt between 1810 and 1881. During this time, the inside of the church got new galleries. These galleries are supported by strong cast-iron columns. When the church was rebuilt, some older parts were kept. These include a special font from 1675, also made by Robert Trollope, and a fancy gold chandelier from 1802.
A Famous Lifeboat Model
One of the most famous things inside St Hilda's Church is a model of a lifeboat. This model was made by William Wouldhave in 1802. It hangs from the ceiling and is a reminder of the important role lifeboats play in saving lives at sea.
The Church Organ
A Musical History
The church has a long history of music. In 1788, a company called Donaldson of York built an organ for the west gallery. This organ was later rebuilt in 1850 by J. W. Walker.
The Grand Lewis Organ
The organ used today is a very impressive instrument. It was built in 1866 by Thomas Christopher Lewis. This was one of his first big projects outside of London. The organ has a beautiful wooden case designed by John Francis Bentley. It is very large, standing about 26 feet high, 13 feet wide, and 18 feet deep.
In 1904, the organ was rebuilt and made even bigger by Nicholson & Lord. They added five more musical stops to it. More recently, in 2003 and 2004, the organ was fully restored by Harrison & Harrison. This made sure it sounds wonderful for many more years. You can find all the details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Famous Organists
Ernest Farrar, a well-known musician, was the organist at St Hilda's Church from March 1910 to August 1912.
Other Interesting Features
In the church grounds, there is a stone with the date 1710 carved into it. This shows how old some parts of the church's history are.
