Sunderland Minster
High Street West, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR1 3ET
A church dedicated to St. Michael has stood on the site since Anglo Saxon times but has been replaced several times and now incorporates surviving elements of late Saxon, medieval and Georgian churches. The main body of the church was rebuilt by W. D. Caroe in the Perpendicular Gothic style because of mining subsidence in the 1930s and alterations took place in the 1980s to make it more fit for purpose in the twentieth century.
Stained glass windows include work by William Morris, Marion Grant and Thomas Denny. There is a weeping chancel, a pulpit turned into an altar and a significant collection of war memorials.
The church, previously known locally as Bishopwearmouth Church, served a vast parish and past rectors include a pope, the theologian William Paley and the brother of the Duke of Wellington. It was created a Minster (the first in the new wave of minsters in the Church of England) by the Bishop of Durham in 1998.
Timings & Tours
- Wednesday 17 September:
- 1000-1300
- Thursday 18 September:
- 1000-1300
- Friday 19 September:
- 1000-1300
- Saturday 20 September:
- 1000-1300
Location & directions
High Street West, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR1 3ET
- Directions:
- The Minster is opposite the Empire Theatre and within a few minutes walk of the Bridges multi storey car park.
- Contact on day:
- Brogan McKenna
- Telephone number:
- +441915654066
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
Wheelchair access to ground floor only.
Additional information
A new garden was opened in front of the church on Bishopwearmouth Green in 2021. There will be a short communion service on Thursday 18th at 12.15pm There will be a talk on the stained glass windows on Friday 19th at 11am A textile banner created by local people portraying aspects of the area's history is on display in the cafe which is open until 3pm each day.
