St Peter's Church, Wallsend facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Wallsend |
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| 54°59′38″N 1°31′03″W / 54.9940°N 1.5176°W | |
| Location | Church Bank, Wallsend |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1809 |
| Dedication | St Peter |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Wallsend St Peter and St Luke |
| Deanery | Tynemouth |
| Archdeaconry | Northumberland |
| Diocese | Newcastle |
| Province | York |
The Church of St Peter is an old and important church in Wallsend, North Tyneside, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This building is so special that it's listed as a Grade II* building, which means it's a very important historical site.
The church was built to replace an even older church called Holy Cross, which was built around the year 1150. By the late 1700s, Holy Cross Church was falling apart. St Peter's was largely rebuilt in 1892, giving it the look it has today. It is the oldest parish church in Wallsend.
Contents
History of St Peter's Church
Why a New Church Was Needed
By the 1790s, the old Holy Cross Church was in very bad shape. Its roof was gone, and it couldn't be used for services anymore. People in Wallsend had to hold their church services in a local schoolroom instead. Everyone agreed that a new church was needed.
Building the New Church
Building the new church wasn't easy. There were arguments between the church leaders and local property owners about who should pay for it. This caused delays until 1804.
Finally, a lawyer suggested a clever way to raise money called a tontine. This was an unusual idea where people invested money, and those who lived the longest would get the profits. This plan became popular and helped raise enough money for the church.
Work on the new church began in 1806. It was discovered that the schoolroom being used for services was not officially approved by the church. This meant that marriages performed there might not be legal! To fix this, a special law was passed in 1807 to make the marriages legal and allow the new church to be built.
The first stone for the new church was laid in November 1807. The churchyard, where people are buried, was officially blessed in 1809. The church was changed a lot in 1892 to look like it does now.
Saving the Church in the 1980s
By the 1980s, the church faced big problems again. The Victorian part of the church, called the chancel, had serious structural damage. There was a real risk that the church might have to close.
However, thanks to Father Alan Clements (who was in charge from 1995 to 2001), large grants were received from English Heritage and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. These funds helped fix the chancel's foundations and make all the needed repairs. The chancel was even turned into a church hall, and other parts became a kitchen and cloakrooms.
In 2001, St Peter's Church joined with St Luke, Wallsend to form one larger church parish.
Church Traditions
The Oxford Movement's Influence
In the early 1800s, during Father Armstrong's time (1830-1871), new ideas from the Oxford Movement began to influence the church. This movement focused on older church traditions and ceremonies. Some people in the church didn't like these changes at first.
Father Armstrong was sometimes criticized for caring too much about ceremonies. But his strong efforts over 40 years set the stage for future leaders. Today, St Peter's Church still follows these traditions, known as Anglo-Catholicism.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
One of the most amazing things about St Peter's Church is its collection of colorful stained glass windows. These windows were made by artists from the Tower of Glass movement in the early 1900s.
- An Túr Gloine (Tower of Glass) Windows in St Peter's
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'Angel of the Resurrection, with St George and St Christopher'. Michael Healy, 1921
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'Our Lord Walking on the Water', Michael Healy, 1921.
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'The Good Shepherd, Mary of Bethany and David', Ethel Rhind, 1921.
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'St Peter, St Patrick and St Luke' Michael Healy, 1913.
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'Our Lord with the Nativity and the Shepherds', Michael Healy 1919.
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'Stella Maris' (Star of the Sea) Thomas Denny 2017
In 2017, an artist named Thomas Denny created and installed a new window called 'Stella Maris' (which means 'Star of the Sea'). This window was a special gift to celebrate the church's 200th birthday in 2009. It was paid for by donations and fundraising.
Other Interesting Features
The Old Font
The church has a very old stone font, which is a basin used for baptizing babies. This font originally came from the even older Holy Cross Church. Monks from Jarrow Abbey might have used it to baptize babies in Wallsend centuries ago.
After Holy Cross Church was abandoned, the font somehow ended up in Wallsend Burn, a local stream. It was rescued in the 1800s and eventually given to St Peter's Church in 1891.
Pipe Organ and Statue
The church has a beautiful pipe organ made by Harrison & Harrison in 1892. There is also a statue of St Peter the Apostle, which was specially ordered by Father Peter Strange.
Stocks and Graves
Outside the church, you can see a set of old wooden stocks. These were once used to punish people who broke rules, like not going to church on Sundays. Today, they are sometimes used for fun wedding photos!
In the churchyard, many victims of mining disasters are buried in unmarked graves. There are special plaques remembering the Heaton Main Colliery Disaster of 1815 and the Wallsend Colliery Disaster of 1835.
There is also an old chest in the church. It was identified on a TV show as a "Nonsuch Chest" from the 1580s. These chests were built by immigrants and decorated with designs from a palace that King Henry VIII built. It's amazing that this old chest was saved!
Church Leaders (Clergy)
For a long time, monks from St Paul's, Jarrow, helped lead the church in Wallsend. After the Reformation, the main priest was called a "perpetual curate." Later, in 1856, the title changed to "rector." When St Peter's and St Luke's churches joined, the main priest became the rector of both.
Here are some of the people who have led the church:
Perpetual Curates
- 1541-1565 George Winter
- 1565-1598 Richard Raye
- 1598-1599 John Philpot
- 1599-1603 Richard Dearham
- 1603-1605 Richard Chambers
- 1605-1620 John Todd
- 1620-1628 George Rayne
- 1628-1664 Joseph Craddock
- 1664-1683 Anthony Proctor
- 1685-1703 Thomas Teasdale
- 1703-1718 Thomas Dockwray
- 1718-1759 Thomas Dockwray
- 1760-1789 Emmanuel Potter
- 1789-1830 Robert Blackett
- 1830-1856 John Armstrong
Rectors of Wallsend St Peter
- 1856-1871 John Armstrong
- 1872-1886 Richard Jenkins
- 1886-1906 James Henderson
- 1906-1936 Charles Osborne
- 1936-1943 Frank Hurst
- 1944-1969 Cecil Davis
- 1970-1979 David McCubbin
- 1979-1986 Peter Strange
- 1986-1992 John Dewar
Priests-in-Charge of Wallsend St Peter
- 1992-1994 John Ross
- 1995-2001 Alan Clements
- 2021 Alan Paterson
Rectors of Wallsend St Peter & St Luke
- 2002-2011 Michael Vine
- 2012-2019 David Sudron
St Peter's Church Today
The part of the church that used to be the chancel is now a church hall. It's used for social events and can be rented by local groups for their meetings and activities.
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The former chancel looking south west
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The former chancel looking south east
