St Paul's Church, Jarrow

Anglo-Saxon

The original church on the site was built in 681 at the behest of King Ecgfrith, who donated land for its constitution as a part of the Monkwearmouth–Jarrow Abbey. The chancel is the remains of a free-standing chapel of the original monastery.^[1] Within the church, in the centre of the North Nave, the foot of a fine Anglo-Saxon cross is on display, its surviving Latin inscription reads: In this unique sign, life is restored to the word. On an inner wall of the tower is a dedication stone dating to 23 April 685, making this one of, if not the oldest, church dedication stones in England. The Church was dedicated to St Paul in the 15th year of King Ecgfrith and the 4th year of the Abbot Ceolfrith. The remains and markers for some of the later (medieval) abbey can be found in the church ground. In 794, the Vikings sacked the church and monastery, but in 1074 it was repaired and the monastery refounded by Aidwin, Prior of Winchcombe Abbey in Gloucestershire. The monastery became a daughter house of the Benedictine community in Durham. At the Dissolution of the Monasteries, St Paul's became a parish church.

Gothic and Gothic Revival

The rest of the church is much later. The late 15th-century choir stalls on the north side of the chancel are noteworthy. The nave and the north aisle were built by Sir George Gilbert Scott. There is, in addition to the older windows, including a few pieces of Anglo-Saxon stained glass, a more modern window by John Piper (1903–92).The church also has on display 'Bede’s Chair' (but evidence suggests that this originated after Bede's death).^[2][3]

Modern

Fenwick Lawson created several carved wood sculptures for St Paul's Church, including "St Michael and the Devil" (1956), showing the archangel Michael defeating Satan; "The Risen Ascended Christ" (1968), depicting Christ's ascension; and "The Venerable Bede" (1973), a life-size carving of the 8th-century scholar and monk.^[4]

The three-light window in the east wall of the chancel, which replaced glass lost during the Second World War, was installed in 1951. Designed and manufactured by the Newcastle-based stained glass artist Leonard Evetts, it shows Christ flanked by two saints. Evetts also made glass for St Peter's Church in Monkwearmouth, the companion church of the twin-monastery of Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Abbey.^[5][6]

Positioned in the north wall of the Anglo-Saxon chancel is a lancet window installed in 1985 to commemorate the 1,300th anniversary of the founding of Monkwearmouth–Jarrow Abbey by St Benedict Biscop. Designed by John Piper and manufactured by Patrick Reyntiens it depicts a double-armed Jarrow Cross in white, edged in green and detailed in silver stain. The cross is set on a blue background with red and yellow flame detail. The initials BB (for Benedict Biscop) are below.^[7]