Sacred Heart Church North Gosforth - Open Days

Built in the 1860s as the Anglican church of St Mary's, the building was funded by local industrialist and MP Thomas Eustace Smith to serve the growing communities north of Gosforth. After use declined in the early twentieth century, it was acquired by Bishop Richard Collins and reopened in 1912 as Sacred Heart Catholic Church, giving the church a distinctive place in both Anglican and Catholic heritage.

Among its most significant features are five stained glass windows produced by William Morris & Co. between about 1872 and 1875. Created during the height of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, they bring together the work of three of Victorian Britain's most influential artists: Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris and Ford Madox Brown.

The centrepiece is the East Window, designed by Burne-Jones. Although its individual figures appeared in other Morris & Co. commissions, this is the only known example in which they were combined into a single composition. The result is a unique work of exceptional artistic quality.

The chancel windows depict the Four Evangelists, while the aisle windows portray St Mary and St Joseph and the Old Testament figures Boaz and Ruth.

Together these windows form one of the finest surviving collections of Morris & Co. stained glass in northern England, linking local history, Victorian patronage and nationally important artistic achievement within a remarkable historic church.

Timings

Tuesday 15 September:

1100-1500

Thursday 17 September:

1100-1500

Friday 18 September:

1100-1500

Location & directions

Sacred Heart Church, Great North Road, North Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE3 5EB

Directions:

The Sacred Heart church is located in North Newcastle near to Brunton Park, Wideopen, Hazlerigg and Newcastle Great Park. It is easily accessed from the A1 at Junction 79 (Gosforth Park) and from the A19 via the Killingworth Junction (A1056) Arriva Buses 43 and 45 go from Newcastle Town Centre - Haymarket in town, or the 43 from Bedlington, Dudley and Cramlington and stop right outside the church grounds.

Contact on day:

Elizabeth Mallett

Telephone number:

+447818046610

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

There are areas of uneven paving outside the church and some uneven flooring inside the church. Wheelchair users please access the church via the main door to the right hand side. Please ask for assistance with opening both doors to allow access. Four of the five historic windows are visible and can be enjoyed from the main body of the church which is accessible to wheelchair uses. They can be approached more closely by accessing the altar but access is limited as there are several steps up and on the altar.

Additional information

Refreshments are available locally at the services at Junction 79 at the A1 and in nearby shops in Wideopen.

Check out our online channels

Back to results