Church of St Thomas the Martyr
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Newcastle upon Tyne
, is one of the most prominent city centre landmarks, located close to both universities, the city hall and main shopping district in the Haymarket
. It is a 19th century Anglican re-foundation of a medieval chapel, traditionally said to have been created by one of the assassins of Thomas Becket
.
, who was murdered in 1170 by a group of four English knights acting – so they mistakenly believed – on the orders of Henry II
. Since Becket had defended the privileges of the Church against Henry, he was regarded as a martyr
and canonized in 1173. The four murderers were instructed, in order to atone for their sins, to serve a period as confreres (associate brothers) of the Knights Templar
, but it is believed that one of them, Hugh de Morville
, also elected to found a chapel
dedicated to the saint as a private penance. It was this chapel which would eventually become the Church of St Thomas the Martyr. The precise foundation date is uncertain, but probably in the 1170s, and certainly by the early 13th century.
but what was then a wooden affair and the only bridge across the Tyne
at Newcastle. By 1248 both bridge and chapel were in the care of a Keeper, known only as Lawrence. In that year much of the town was destroyed by fire; the chapel escaped, but the bridge was badly damaged and Lawrence was given responsibility for raising money for rebuilding, which included the reconstruction of the bridge in stone.
In 1329 one William Heron founded a Chantry
within St Thomas’, dedicated to St Anne and endowed with £4 17s per annum; a second Chantry, dedicated to St Mary, had £4 3s 6d a year. In 1339 the chapel bridge was once more severely damaged, this time by flood, and it remained ruinous for much of the 14th century.
The chapel possessed three cellars, one of which was rented out by William Spyn, the then chaplain, at 14 shillings a year in 1347. Further income was raised through a windmill
below Jesmond
(confirmed as the chapel’s property in 1408) and more land, in Whickham
, left to the chapel in the will
of Roger Thornton
in 1429.
to cater for those afflicted with leprosy
, a disease brought to the Country by returning Crusaders
. The hospital was located near what is now the northern end of Northumberland Street
. Although a religious house, the hospital was overlooked in the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century English Reformation
, and the Hospital continues to operate into the present day, though evolving into a charity rather than a working hospital by the early 19th century. James I
incorporated the hospital and the Chapel of St Thomas the Martyr into a single institution under the government of a Master, the first of these being a Mr Jennison.
In 1732 the Mayor and Corporation of Newcastle, who acted as patrons of the united hospital and chapel and who were empowered to alter the statutes, beautified the chapel and made it a Chapel of ease
for St Nicholas Church. At that time it seated 300 people.
Alterations were made to the chapel in 1770 and subsequently, but it was damaged in a great flood in 1771. Although the building was not substantially affected, by 1827 it was felt the old chapel needed replacing and it was closed in March that year, with a replacement built on the site of St Mary Magdalene’s Hospital.
was hired to design the new church, and he produced an elegant Gothic
-style building at a cost of £6000. The church was completed in 1830. Galleries were added in 1837 and the seating was replaced in 1881. In 1972 the level of the High Altar
was lowered, the chancel screen removed and the chancel extended into the nave, with a nave altar. The present church is a Grade II* Listed Building.
, but neither is it a Peculiar
(ecclesiastical enclave), making it unique in the Church of England
. It is governed by the Body Corporate (comprising the senior priest and Churchwarden
s) and ultimately through Acts of Parliament
. It lies within the Diocese of Newcastle
, the Archdeaconry of Northumberland and the Deanery
of Newcastle. It was formally separated from the Hospital of St Mary Magdalene in 1978, but the senior priest of the church is still referred to as the Master.
) on Sundays and a service of Holy Communion at 12.15pm on Wednesdays.
However, the church is regarded as serving the whole city, the universities and various organisations and communities. Consequently it serves as the venue for a busy programme of civic and private services. Its proximity to the City Hall and to both Newcastle and Northumbria
Universities mean it acts as semi-official church to these institutions, but it also provides regular services for the Royal British Legion, various Regimental Associations and the Mothers’ Union, amongst other groups. In recent years, conductor and organist Miles Cragg has presided at the organ for a number of carol services. A choir comprising members of King's College, later Newcastle University, always sang at the University Carol Service in December and occasionally for funerals of members of staff of the University.
, for example, the issue of homosexuality
. It also has a strong tradition of involvement in social issues, most notably trade justice
, developing countries' debt
and related subjects. This has been expressed through major campaigns, such as involvement in the Jubilee 2000
and Make Poverty History
movements, and also on a smaller scale, such as support for Fair Trade
and sale of fairly traded goods in the church’s One World Shop. In addition a variety of national, international and local charitable causes are supported through a range of methods.
was built in the church by Elliot and Hill in 1832.
A new organ by Vincent and Co. replaced the Elliot and Hill instrument in 1902, which was rebuilt by Binns, Fitton and Haley in 1931. This in turn was extensively rebuilt by Harrison and Harrison in 1961. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, is one of the most prominent city centre landmarks, located close to both universities, the city hall and main shopping district in the Haymarket
Newcastle Haymarket
Haymarket is an area in the north of the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.The area functions as a public transport hub with Eldon Square bus station, Haymarket bus station and Haymarket Metro station located next to each other....
. It is a 19th century Anglican re-foundation of a medieval chapel, traditionally said to have been created by one of the assassins of Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
.
Dedication and foundation
The church is dedicated to St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, who was murdered in 1170 by a group of four English knights acting – so they mistakenly believed – on the orders of Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. Since Becket had defended the privileges of the Church against Henry, he was regarded as a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
and canonized in 1173. The four murderers were instructed, in order to atone for their sins, to serve a period as confreres (associate brothers) of the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
, but it is believed that one of them, Hugh de Morville
Hugh de Morville, Lord of Westmorland
Sir Hugh de Morville was an Anglo-Norman knight who served King Henry II of England in the late 12th century. He is chiefly famous as one of the assassins of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1170...
, also elected to found a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
dedicated to the saint as a private penance. It was this chapel which would eventually become the Church of St Thomas the Martyr. The precise foundation date is uncertain, but probably in the 1170s, and certainly by the early 13th century.
De Morville’s chapel
De Morville – if indeed he was responsible (there is no absolute proof) – set up his chapel at a riverside location, next to what is now the Swing BridgeSwing Bridge, River Tyne
The Swing Bridge is a swing bridge over the River Tyne, England connecting Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, and lies between the Tyne Bridge and the High Level Bridge. The hydraulic power to move the bridge is derived from electrically driven pumps...
but what was then a wooden affair and the only bridge across the Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
at Newcastle. By 1248 both bridge and chapel were in the care of a Keeper, known only as Lawrence. In that year much of the town was destroyed by fire; the chapel escaped, but the bridge was badly damaged and Lawrence was given responsibility for raising money for rebuilding, which included the reconstruction of the bridge in stone.
In 1329 one William Heron founded a Chantry
Chantry
Chantry is the English term for a fund established to pay for a priest to celebrate sung Masses for a specified purpose, generally for the soul of the deceased donor. Chantries were endowed with lands given by donors, the income from which maintained the chantry priest...
within St Thomas’, dedicated to St Anne and endowed with £4 17s per annum; a second Chantry, dedicated to St Mary, had £4 3s 6d a year. In 1339 the chapel bridge was once more severely damaged, this time by flood, and it remained ruinous for much of the 14th century.
The chapel possessed three cellars, one of which was rented out by William Spyn, the then chaplain, at 14 shillings a year in 1347. Further income was raised through a windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
below Jesmond
Jesmond
Jesmond is a residential suburb and is split into two electoral wards just north of the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The population is about 12,000. It is adjacent to, and to the east of, the Town Moor, providing pedestrian and cycle paths to Spital Tongues and the city's two Universities...
(confirmed as the chapel’s property in 1408) and more land, in Whickham
Whickham
Whickham is a town in North East England, four miles south west of Newcastle upon Tyne and four and a half miles west of Gateshead. Whickham is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Its postal address is Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne. Whickham is situated on high ground overlooking the...
, left to the chapel in the will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
of Roger Thornton
Roger Thornton
Roger Thornton , the Dick Whittington of Newcastle, seems to have been a country boy seeking his fortune in town.-History:The old saying was: At the Westgate came Thornton in With a hap, and a halfpenny, and a lambskin....
in 1429.
St Mary Magdalene’s Hospital and the move to the new site
The Hospital of St Mary Magdalene was founded just outside Newcastle by Henry IHenry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
to cater for those afflicted with leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
, a disease brought to the Country by returning Crusaders
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
. The hospital was located near what is now the northern end of Northumberland Street
Northumberland Street
Northumberland Street is a major shopping street in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the North East of England. It is home to a wide range of different retailers, banks and cafes, and in terms of rental per square metre, Northumberland Street is the most expensive location in the UK outside of...
. Although a religious house, the hospital was overlooked in the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, and the Hospital continues to operate into the present day, though evolving into a charity rather than a working hospital by the early 19th century. James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
incorporated the hospital and the Chapel of St Thomas the Martyr into a single institution under the government of a Master, the first of these being a Mr Jennison.
In 1732 the Mayor and Corporation of Newcastle, who acted as patrons of the united hospital and chapel and who were empowered to alter the statutes, beautified the chapel and made it a Chapel of ease
Chapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
for St Nicholas Church. At that time it seated 300 people.
Alterations were made to the chapel in 1770 and subsequently, but it was damaged in a great flood in 1771. Although the building was not substantially affected, by 1827 it was felt the old chapel needed replacing and it was closed in March that year, with a replacement built on the site of St Mary Magdalene’s Hospital.
The new church
The Newcastle architect John DobsonJohn Dobson (architect)
John Dobson was a 19th-century English architect in the neoclassical tradition. He became the most noted architect in the North of England. Churches and houses by him dot the North East - Nunnykirk Hall, Meldon Park, Mitford Hall, Lilburn Tower, St John the Baptist Church in Otterburn,...
was hired to design the new church, and he produced an elegant Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
-style building at a cost of £6000. The church was completed in 1830. Galleries were added in 1837 and the seating was replaced in 1881. In 1972 the level of the High Altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
was lowered, the chancel screen removed and the chancel extended into the nave, with a nave altar. The present church is a Grade II* Listed Building.
Legal status
The modern St Thomas the Martyr has no parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
, but neither is it a Peculiar
Royal Peculiar
A Royal Peculiar is a place of worship that falls directly under the jurisdiction of the British monarch, rather than under a bishop. The concept dates from Anglo-Saxon times, when a church could ally itself with the monarch and therefore not be subject to the bishop of the area...
(ecclesiastical enclave), making it unique in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. It is governed by the Body Corporate (comprising the senior priest and Churchwarden
Churchwarden
A churchwarden is a lay official in a parish church or congregation of the Anglican Communion, usually working as a part-time volunteer. Holders of these positions are ex officio members of the parish board, usually called a vestry, parish council, parochial church council, or in the case of a...
s) and ultimately through Acts of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
. It lies within the Diocese of Newcastle
Diocese of Newcastle
The Diocese of Newcastle is a Church of England diocese based in Newcastle upon Tyne, covering the historic county of Northumberland . The area of Alston Moor in Cumbria also forms part of the diocese.The diocese came into being on May 23, 1882, and was one of four created by the Bishoprics Act...
, the Archdeaconry of Northumberland and the Deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
of Newcastle. It was formally separated from the Hospital of St Mary Magdalene in 1978, but the senior priest of the church is still referred to as the Master.
Services and civic function
Despite having no parish, the church maintains a normal routine of regular weekly services. Currently these consist of a 10am Sung Communion (EucharistEucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
) on Sundays and a service of Holy Communion at 12.15pm on Wednesdays.
However, the church is regarded as serving the whole city, the universities and various organisations and communities. Consequently it serves as the venue for a busy programme of civic and private services. Its proximity to the City Hall and to both Newcastle and Northumbria
Northumbria University
Northumbria University is an academic institution located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. It is a member of the University Alliance.- History :...
Universities mean it acts as semi-official church to these institutions, but it also provides regular services for the Royal British Legion, various Regimental Associations and the Mothers’ Union, amongst other groups. In recent years, conductor and organist Miles Cragg has presided at the organ for a number of carol services. A choir comprising members of King's College, later Newcastle University, always sang at the University Carol Service in December and occasionally for funerals of members of staff of the University.
Ethos
St Thomas’s has a reputation for a liberal approach to doctrine and theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, for example, the issue of homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. It also has a strong tradition of involvement in social issues, most notably trade justice
Trade justice
Trade justice is a campaign by non-governmental organisations lobbying for changes to the rules and practices of world trade so that poor people and the environment benefit...
, developing countries' debt
Developing countries' debt
The debt of developing countries is external debt incurred by governments of developing countries, generally in quantities beyond the governments' political ability to repay...
and related subjects. This has been expressed through major campaigns, such as involvement in the Jubilee 2000
Jubilee 2000
Jubilee 2000 was an international coalition movement in over 40 countries that called for cancellation of third world debt by the year 2000. This movement coincided with the Great Jubilee, the celebration of the year 2000 in the Catholic Church...
and Make Poverty History
Make Poverty History
Make Poverty History is the name of a campaign that exists in a number of countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark , Finland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain and Ireland...
movements, and also on a smaller scale, such as support for Fair Trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
and sale of fairly traded goods in the church’s One World Shop. In addition a variety of national, international and local charitable causes are supported through a range of methods.
The organ
An organOrgan (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
was built in the church by Elliot and Hill in 1832.
A new organ by Vincent and Co. replaced the Elliot and Hill instrument in 1902, which was rebuilt by Binns, Fitton and Haley in 1931. This in turn was extensively rebuilt by Harrison and Harrison in 1961. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
List of Organists
- Samuel Reay 1845 - 1847 (later organist of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-TrentChurch of St. Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-TrentThe Church of St. Mary Magadalene, Newark-on-Trent is a parish church in the Church of England in Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire.The church is Grade I listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as a building of outstanding architectural or historic interest.-Building:It is notable for...
) - Robert Potts ???? - 1883
- James Moody Preston 1883 - 1888
- Frederick William Smallwood 1900 - 1921 - ????
- Donald Easton Wright (1950s-1960s)
- Donald Halliday (1982–1996)
- Martin Charlton ca 2008
- Ian McDonald
List of Masters
- Laurence, in 1269.
- William of Stanhope occurs in 1289 and 1297.
- Nicholas de Stockton occurs in 1341.
- William Spynn was master and keeper of Tyne Bridge in 1347 and 1352.
- John Wernmouth occurs in 1411 and 1413.
- John Crofte appointed by the corporation in 1426.
- Thomas Scott occurs in 1498.
- John Brandlyng, clerk, appointed August 30, 1538.
- Cuthbert Ellison held this office before March 13, 1556.
- Sir George Carr, priest, appointed July 24, 1565.
- Robert Jennison 1611 - 1652
- Cuthbert Sydenham 1652 - 1653
- Samuel Hammond 1653 - ????
- Robert Bonner 1662 - 1676
- Thomas Davison 1676 - 1716
- John Chilton 1716 - 1717
- Robert Thomlinson 1717 - 1748
- Henry Featherstonehalgh 1748 - 1779
- Nathanael Clayton 1779 - 1786
- Henry Ridley 1786 - 1825
- John Smith 1825 - 1826
- Richard Clayton 1826 - 1856
- Clement Moody 1856 - 1871
- Marsden Gibson 1872 - 1894
- Alexander James Harrison 1894 - 1914
- Jesse Hickling Ison 1914 - 1940
- George Edwin Jenkins 1941 - 1947
- Albert John Bennitt 1948 - 1969
- John Lloyd Rochfort Crawley 1969 - 1974
- Ian Harker 1975 - 1983
- David John Parker 1984 - 1989
- Ian David Houghton 1990 - 1995
- John Christopher (Kit) Widdows 1995 - 2007
- Catherine Mary Lack 2009 -