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148 St Peters Church - Sunderland

St Peters Sunderland by David Blakelock

YOU could be forgiven for thinking that the only religion in Sunderland is the football club – even though they have the worst Premiership record!

But it’s in this city where you’ll find one of Britain’s oldest churches and a massively important site of early Christianity.

Like the rest of the north east, Sunderland is steeped in Christian history because it was this region that introduced Britain to the religion.

Sunderland itself was a small area in what is now known as Hendon. It was given the name because that was where the bishops on one side of the River Wear (a lot narrower than it is now) and monks on the other would often meet. They were ‘sundered’ from each other, hence Sunderland.

The two areas outside of Sunderland were Bishopwearmouth and Monkwearmouth, but Sunderland grew because of its importance as a port. And it’s in the Monkwearmouth area where you’ll find St Peter’s Church.

Christians have gathered at this bend in the Wear for more than 1,300 years, although the building has moved further from the water’s edge over the years thanks to the amount of ship’s ballast that has been dumped there.

St Peter’s was built in 674AD by Benedict Biscop and it was one of the first stone buildings to be erected in the country after the Roman’s left in the 4th Century.

Benedict was a pioneering monk and he was given a grant of land by the Northumbrian King, Egfrith. He built an important complex of church and monastic buildings and brought glaziers from Gaul (France) to create the windows for the church.

As a result, they established Monkwearmouth as the birthplace of British stained glass. The trade of glass-making continues close to the church at the National Glass Centre. It was once a massive industry in Sunderland and Pyrex still makes products in the city today.

The work of Benedict continued and was expanded by his successor Ceolfrid, the second Abbot. Ceolfrid expanded the library and supervised the making of three copies of the Latin Bible, one of which, the Codex Amiatinus, survives today in Florence.

Ceolfrid’s pupil Bede began his monastic life here at the age of seven and he grew up to be a gifted writer.

St Peter’s is now a parish church and the area could be in line to become a World Heritage Site with its sister church of St Bede’s at Jarrow. Campaigners are currently waiting to hear if their attempts to be awarded the accolade are successful.

Much of the interior dates from a major restoration carried out in the 1870s, though medieval stonework is visible at the south side of the chancel arch. Following an arson attack in 1984, there were more changes during which the nave sanctuary and exhibition area were built. The chancel ceiling was also repainted and a fine Copeman-Hart organ was installed.

Situated off Dame Dorothy Street, St Peter’s Church is well signposted and you can take in magnificent views of Wearmouth Bridge and see the banks of the Wear which was once the centre of a massive shipbuilding industry. Now, you’ll find apartments, yachts in the marina and a sprawling university campus.

Written by Pics and Words

May 11, 2006 | In Sunderland, Sunderland Local Information |

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