Sacred Heart Church, North Gosforth

The Sacred Heart Church is a Roman Catholic church and ecclesiastical parish in North Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Situated between Wideopen village to the north and Gosforth Park to the south, the church was made a Grade II listed building in 2006.[1] It is notable for its stained glass windows bearing designs by members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, in particular Sir Edward Burne-Jones.[1][2]

Sacred Heart Church
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Location in Tyne and Wear
Location in Tyne and Wear
Sacred Heart Church
Location of Sacred Heart RC Church in Tyne and Wear
55°02′27″N 1°37′15″W / 55.0407°N 1.6209°W / 55.0407; -1.6209
OS grid referenceNZ2432271866
LocationNorth Gosforth
CountryEngland
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitehttp://www.sacredheartng.org.uk/
History
Former name(s)Anglican church of St Mary
Dedicated24 June 1912
Associated peopleThomas Eustace Smith
William Morris
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade II
Designated18 October 2006
StyleEarly English Gothic
Completed1860s
Administration
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
ParishSacred Heart Parish, North Gosforth
Clergy
Priest(s)Father Michael Weymes
Deacon(s)John Hawthorne

History

edit

St Mary's Church

edit

The church is a 19th-century former Anglican church, built and donated by Thomas Eustace Smith in the 1860s, and named St Mary's. Use of the church fell following the more general use of St Columba's church in Seaton Burn, which was closer to most of the parish, and the church later closed.

Sacred Heart Church

edit

The church was bought in 1911 by Bishop Richard Collins, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and endowed to the Diocese. Mass was first led by the Bishop on 28 January 1912, and the church was formally dedicated to the Sacred Heart on 24 June 1912.[3][4]

List of Incumbent Priests

edit
Date Incumbent
1912–1918 George C. Jeffreys [a]
1918–1921 C. Bede Tuohey
1922–1925 Charles Hart
1925–1926 None [b]
1926–1937 Charles Hart
1930–1937 C. Bede Tuohey
1937–1948 William T Harris
1948–1949 James O'Brien
1949–1962 James Phelan
1962–1964 William McKenna
1964–1984 Edward Ord
1984–2000 Thomas Cass
2000–2008 Joseph Travers
2008–2020 James Dunne
2020–2022 William Agley [c]
2022-present Michael Weymes [d]

Architecture

edit

Built in the 1860s, the church is designed in the Early English Gothic style, although much of the masonry is brick rather than more traditional stone. The architect is unknown, but due to a number of similarities to the church of Baldersby St James in North Yorkshire, the parish believes that it is the work of William Butterfield or one of his students.[3]

Stained glass windows

edit

The church is notable for its stained glass windows, bearing designs by Pre-Raphaelite artists Edward Burne-Jones, Ford Madox Brown and William Morris.[3][5]

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Curate of St. Aidan's RC Church, Benton.
  2. ^ Served from St Charles Church, Gosforth.
  3. ^ Also priest of St Charles Church,Gosforth.
  4. ^ Also priest of St Charles Church, Gosforth.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Historic England (18 October 2006). "Sacred Heart Church (1391786)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Sacred Heart Church, Wideopen Conservation Area Character Appraisal" (PDF). Wallsend: North Tyneside Council. January 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Sacred Heart, Church History". Sacred Heart RC Church, North Gosforth. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Sacred Heart Church in Gosforth to celebrate centenary". North East Life. Retrieved 7 September 2012.[dead link]
  5. ^ "Sacred Heart, Burne-Jones Windows". Sacred Heart RC Church, North Gosforth. Retrieved 7 September 2012.