Church of St Helen, St Helen Auckland explained

Church of St Helen, St Helen Auckland
Coordinates:54.6357°N -1.7098°W
Location:Manor Road, St Helen Auckland, County Durham, DL14 9EN
Country:England
Denomination:Church of England
Churchmanship:Traditional Catholic
Website:http://www.sthelenschurch.co.uk/
Status:Active
Functional Status:Parish church
Heritage Designation:Grade I listed
Bells:Two
Parish:St. Helen Auckland
Deanery:Auckland
Archdeaconry:Archdeaconry of Auckland
Diocese:Diocese of Durham
Bishop:Rt Revd Stephen Race SSC (AEO)
Vicar:The Rev'd Canon Robert McTeer SSC
Honpriest:The Rev'd Father Peter Anderton SSC
Nonstipendiaryminister:The Rev'd Edward Gunn, SSC
Organist:Joan Johnson
Organscholar:vacant
Warden:John Bake and Anne Skillcorn

The Church of St Helen is a Church of England parish church in St Helen Auckland, County Durham. It is a Grade I listed building.

History

The church dates to the late 12th century and early 13th century. The oldest surviving part of the church, the two easternmost bays of the nave, were built in 1120.[1] A low-pitched roof was added when the roof was rebuilt in the 15th century. At the turn of the 16th century, a clerestory and battlements were built. The original door to the church remains, making it "one of the oldest doors in England".

On 21 April 1952, the church was designated a grade I listed building.

In 2001, a restoration of the church took place. This involved renewing the floor, replacing the fixed pews with new movable ones, limewashing the walls, and repointing masonry. It cost £170,000.[2]

Present day

The Parish of St. Helen Auckland is part of the Archdeaconry of Auckland in the Diocese of Durham.

The parish stands in the Traditional Catholic tradition of the Church of England.[3] As the parish rejects the ordination of women, it receives alternative episcopal oversight from the Bishop of Beverley (currently Stephen Race),[4] and it is affiliated with The Society.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History. S. Helen's Church. 26 July 2017.
  2. Web site: Restoration of St Helen's Church. S. Helen's Church.
  3. Web site: St Helen Auckland, West Auckland. A Church Near You. Archbishops' Council. 25 July 2017.
  4. Web site: St Helen, Auckland. See of Beverley. 25 July 2017.
  5. Web site: Diocese of Durham: Parishes of the Society. The Society. Forward in Faith. 26 July 2017.