St Paul's

Welcome to the webpage for St Paul's Church, the royal, ancient and monastic parish church of Jarrow, founded in AD681 as part of the twin monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow (the UK's nomination for World Heritage site status in 2010)

For downloadable audio guides to the church and the surrounding monastery site,
click on this link: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.19410

St Paul's Church, Jarrow

Enquiries

Enquiries about baptisms, weddings, etc should be made through the parish secretary - please contact via the Parish Office page.

Initial information and advice can be obtained by attending one of our regular services (see calendar page) and speaking to the clergy.

To enquire about booking a history group visit or pilgrimage to the Ecumenical Church of St Paul
please contact either the verger, Mr Jimmy Guy, on (0191) 489 6670
or the Team Vicar based at St Paul's,
Revd Jenny Lancaster, on (0191) 423 4109.

School Groups should book an educational visit (which delivers National Curriculum requirements) through Bede's World on 0191 489 2106.

Revd Jenny is also available for consultation on pastoral matters,
alongside the other Team Clergy -
Team Rector Revd Bill Braviner (0191 489 3279)
 

St Paul's

St Paul's is a living church,in the parish church of Jarrow. Visitors are welcome to explore the building - see the opening times below. We welcome many individuals and groups throughout the year, whether as visitors, tourists or pilgrims. We can offer a short history of the site, and the opportunity for quiet reflection and prayer. Come along to one of our regular services (see the calendar page) and share with us in refreshments and chat afterwards.

The chancel is a direct survival from the 7th century in which Bede worshipped when it was a free-standing chapel of the monastery.

The Chancel of St Paul's - the original monastery chapel of AD681

Inside the church, cemented into the wall of the tower, is the original stone slab which records in a Latin inscription the dedication of the church on 23 April AD 685, which is the oldest church dedication stone in England.

The inscription reads:

DEDICATIO BASILICAE
SCI PAUL VIIII KL MAI
ANNO XV EFRIDI REG
CEOLFRIDI ABB EIUSDEM
Q ECCLES DO AVCTORE
CONDITORIS ANNO IIII

This translates as:

The dedication of the basilica
of St. Paul on the 9th day before the Kalends of May
in the 15th year of King Ecgfrith
and in the fourth year of Abbot Ceolfrith founder,
by God's guidance, of the same church.

Behind the church you can see remains of the Benedictine monastery of the Middle Ages which was re-founded on the site of Bede's monastery. Remains of buildings, from the days of Bede, were found in excavations and their positions have been marked out on the ground.

Opening times:

St. Paul's Church is opened by volunteers, and can usually be visited during the following times:

Monday - Saturday: 10.00 - 4.00
Sunday: 2.00 - 4.00

From December to the end of January, closing time each day is 3pm and evening prayer is said at 3.30pm. The church / shop doesn’t open for visits between Christmas and New Year (even our volunteers need a holiday!)

To contact St Paul's Church, phone: 0191 489 7052

Some Key Facts about St Paul's:

St Paul's Church and Monastery was built on land given by King Ecgfrith of Northumbria in AD681.

It was founded by Benedict Biscop, who seven years previously had built the church and monastery of St. Peter's at Wearmouth. The chancel of St. Paul's is the original Saxon church built as a separate chapel possibly dedicated to Our Lady.

A large Basilica was built on the site of the present nave and dedicated on 23rd April, AD685. The present nave and north aisle are the work of the Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. The monastery, to which the Venerable Bede came as a boy, thrived in the 7th and 8th centuries. It was here that Bede lived, worked and worshipped. His bones now lie in the Galilee Chapel of Durham Cathedral. In AD794 the Vikings sacked the church and monastery, but in AD1074 the church was repaired and the monastery re-founded by Aldwin, Prior of Winchcombe Abbey in Gloucestershire. The monastery then became a daughter house of the Benedictine Priory at Durham (now Durham Cathedral).

At the Dissolution of the Monasteries, St. Paul's became the Parish Church.

Today the church is part of the Parish of Jarrow Team Ministry
within the Church of England and Diocese of Durham.

Things to see:

7th CENTURY FOUNDATIONS
Exposed in the main aisle is part of the north wall of the larger Saxon Church, opened in AD685.

SAXON CROSS
In the centre of the North Nave Exhibition, the foot of a fine Saxon Cross with its Latin inscription
"in hoc singulari signo vita redditur mundo"
'In this unique sign, life is restored to the world'.

THE DEDICATION STONE
Now situated high above the Chancel arch. (See above).

SAXON CHANCEL
Look for:- Three single splayed Saxon windows - the middle window containing Saxon glass made here in the Monastic workshops.

The Saxon Aumbry - in the south wall of the sanctuary.

An Ancient Chair- known and traditionallu venerated as Bede's.

Late 15th Century Choir stalls - on the north side.

EXHIBITION OF SCULPTURE
A unique collection of Anglo-Saxon Sculpture in the North Aisle.
The three wooden sculptures:
The Risen Ascended Christ
The Venerable Bede.
St. Michael and the Devil.
are the work of Fenwick Lawson.

THE MONASTIC SITE
Outside the Church are the remains of the domestic buildings of the Monastery.
The standing ruins date mostly from the eleventh century. The monastic site is in the guardianship of English Heritage.

THE PRAYER OF THE VENERABLE BEDE
(one of our most famous past residents)

I pray you, good Jesus,
that as you have given me the grace
to drink in with joy the Word that gives knowledge of you,
so in your goodness you will grant me
to come at length to yourself,
the source of all wisdom,
to stand before your face forever.
Amen.