Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
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The 2 churches future

Posted by Stan Wears on 21/12/2025, 6:40 pm

Although the future of the 2 churches has not yet been decided, ie demolition or conversion and dates, may I kindly as all board contributors if they hear anything to let me know asap.

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Norman on 21/12/2025, 8:03 pm, in reply to "The 2 churches future "

Hi Stan, if I hear anything I will let you know.
Because people don't go to church like we used to, more and more will close . It's a shame.

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Stan Wears on 21/12/2025, 8:34 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

I can't say too much yet except I was advised by an expert on churches that hardly a thing is saved when a church is demolished. Most ends up in landfill. I'm after purchasing 2 items and if successful will put them up for auction. The money will go to St John's.

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Brian on 22/12/2025, 4:36 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

I would be tempted to contact the parish committee and find out if the items will be coming up for auction or disposed of in some other way.

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Brian on 22/12/2025, 4:39 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

Some churches give other churches first pick, a number will auction, private sale etc, I would keep in contact both churches and ask them to keep you informed of disposal of any items.

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Stan Wears on 22/12/2025, 7:41 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

Thanks Brian. There are 2 items that would not interest the average punter but I will keep in touch with Lizzie at the diocese office. I know other churches would not be interested in them but it bothers me a lot to know similar ones end in a landfill.

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Brian on 22/12/2025, 7:55 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

Stan it's totally understandable, the only thing you tend to see on sale are the pews, everything else is deemed worthless in so many eyes.

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Stan Wears on 22/12/2025, 8:49 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

So right Brian. If I didn't study church architecture in great depths I'd have never known about them and only by 1000 to 1 I came across the man who made them. How lucky!

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Sheila on 22/12/2025, 9:14 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

Stan, the local Church in Abingdon is 900 years old and they has been a church on the site for 1300 years, but it’s not the oldest church in England. I can understand your interest. I just think it’s sad that some will not survive, yet I read a lot of young people are going back to church and getting interested in their Christian heritage. Which I think is not a bad thing. Sorry if this is controversial and might need to be remived

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Brian on 22/12/2025, 10:19 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

The really old churches have a special feeling, sadly so many churches will close as they've become unsustainable predominantly those from the 19th century onwards. I took a phone call from Escomb church near Bishop Auckland, I worked for a disability charity at the time and the enquiry was about accessibility I started getting background about the building and it turned out its one of only four complete Ango Saxon churches in the UK built in the 8th century and grade 1 listed, all we could suggest was portable access ramps.

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Stan Wears on 23/12/2025, 10:44 am, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

So right Brian. Sheila it is a case of use it or lose it. Like Brian, I've been to Escomb and it's churches like this that has led me to study church architecture pre 1900 in fine detail. It may suprise a lot of people to know St. Paul's in jarrow has had every stone recorded as to where it was quarried, the type of stone etc. We also know there are 3 small vaults below the chancel. Our research is ongoing. However, I am baffled as to why there is hardly anything recorded on the 2 historical churches. They appear to be forgotten since built. I travel all over the UK to film historical churches but the 2 in Hebburn are a mystery...

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Brian on 23/12/2025, 11:33 am, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

I wonder why we lose some many of them is the environment and community around the buildings change. Building new estates whilst removing the previous homes displaces whole communities including the Church community, it becomes harder to attend their usual Church so attendance lessens and in many cases stop.
Churches are trying to survive on congregations that in a lot of cases are less than 20. It's not a recent phenomenon Church attendances have been dwindling for decades, attendances rallied in WW2, but soon subsided again. A lot of Churches seemed to lose the skill of interaction with the community and this contributed to the closure of so many
Churches and the loss of the communities

Re: The 2 churches future

Posted by Patrick Brennan on 23/12/2025, 9:18 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

The simple answer is that very few people believe in the Chritian message any mote.

Re: The 2 churches future - first Patrick

Posted by Liz Dance on 23/12/2025, 9:21 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future "

Patrick, it seems as though younger people are turning to the Church, congregations, in some places, are increasing, long may it last.

Re: The 2 churches future - first Patrick

Posted by Sheila on 24/12/2025, 2:57 pm, in reply to "Re: The 2 churches future - first Patrick"

Liz, I read that recently. I got more involved with the C of E through my children’s school. First in the Somerset villages we lived in. I loved their hymns. I often watch Songs of Praise on as Sunday, but don’t hear and of the well known hymns. If occasionally they are sung, the music has changed, but there are a lot of young people singing which is nice to see and hear.

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