St Stephen's Church, Low Elswick Explained

St Stephen's Church, Low Elswick
Imagealt:A tower with a stair turret, pinnacles and a spire
Map Caption:Location in Tyne and Wear
Country:England
Coordinates:54.9635°N -1.6401°W
Osgraw:NZ 231 632
Heritage Designation:Grade II
Designated Date:14 June 1954
Style:Gothic Revival (Decorated)
Groundbreaking:1866
Completed Date:1868
Closed Date:1 January 1984
Materials:Sandstone, Welsh slate roof

St Stephen's Church is a redundant Anglican church on Brunel Terrace, Low Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.

History

The foundation stone of the church was laid by Sir William Armstrong on 19 November 1866. Building was completed in 1868 and it was dedicated by Charles Baring, Bishop of Durham, during that year. It was declared redundant on 1 January 1984 and was vested in the Trust on 18 March 1987.

The main part of the church building was found to have been suffering from dry rot and was demolished between 1987 and 1988.[1] Only the tower of the church remains standing. Only the base of the tower is available for public access, by prior appointment.

Architecture

The church is constructed in sandstone with a Welsh slate roof. As built, its plan consisted of a nave with north and south aisles and a west porch, a north transept, a chancel with a north aisle, and a northwest tower. Its architectural style is Decorated Gothic Revival. The tower is in three stages with triple bell openings, a corbel table, and a battlemented parapet. Flying buttresses lead up to a tall octagonal spire with lucarnes. It contains a ring of eight bells which were cast in 1880 by John Taylor of Loughborough.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Morton . David . An abandoned church in Newcastle's West End, nearly 40 years after it closed . 24 November 2023 . Chronicle Live . 2 February 2022 . en.