St Paul's Church, Whitley Bay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Paul's Church, Whitley Bay
St Paul's Church in Whitley Bay Town Centre
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Anglo-Catholic
History
Dedication	Saint Paul
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II
Architect(s)	Anthony Salvin
Administration
Deanery	Tynemouth
Diocese	Diocese of Newcastle
Province	Province of York

St Paul's Church is a special church in Whitley Bay, a town in North Tyneside, United Kingdom. It's like the main church for the local area. The church was built in 1864. Even though its official name is St Paul's Church, Cullercoats, it's actually located right in the middle of Whitley Bay, not in the nearby area of Cullercoats.

The Story of St Paul's Church

How the Church Was Built

The famous architect Anthony Salvin designed St Paul's Church. He created it for the Duke of Northumberland, who was a very important person in the area. The building is so special that English Heritage has given it a Grade II listing. This means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected.

What Happens at the Church Today?

St Paul's Church is a busy place! They create a regular newsletter and a magazine for everyone in the church community. They also hold fun events like an annual summer fair. Around the start of December, they have a special St Nicholas Fair and Festival. These events are a great way for people to come together.

The church is part of the Church of England. For a long time, it followed a style called Traditional Catholic. This meant they had certain beliefs, like not allowing women to become priests. Because of this, they received guidance from a special bishop, the Bishop of Beverley. However, the church has now changed its mind on these rules. Now, they get their guidance from the main Bishop of Newcastle.

Who Helps Run the Church?

The Church Council

The church has a group called the parochial church council (PCC). Think of them as a team that helps run the church. They look after the church's money, the building itself, and all the activities.

The PCC has 22 members. They meet every month to discuss important things. This group includes two clergy (church leaders), a lay reader (someone who helps with services but isn't a priest), two churchwardens (people who help manage the church), and a treasurer (who looks after the money). There are also representatives who go to meetings with other churches in the area. Most of these members are chosen by the church community.

A smaller group, called the standing committee, helps with urgent issues between the main meetings. They also help plan what the PCC will talk about.

Important Church Leaders

Over the years, some important people have served at St Paul's Church.

• Norman Banks was the vicar (the main priest) from 1990 to 2000. He later became a bishop.
• Paul Bayes worked at St Paul's as a curate (a new priest learning the ropes) from 1979 to 1982. He also later became a bishop.

Past Vicars of St Paul's

Here is a list of the main priests, called Vicars, who have led St Paul's Church over the years:

Music at St Paul's

St Paul's Church has a choir with about 15 singers. Music is an important part of their services.

A sad story from the church's past involves a former organist named John Percival Forster. He played the organ at St Paul's for six years, from 1912 to 1916. Sadly, he was killed in a big battle called the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916, when he was only 28 years old. There is a special plaque (a memorial sign) near the altar in the church that remembers him.

See also

• List of new churches by Anthony Salvin