Jesmond, Newcastle

Clayton Road in Jesmond was home to one of Newcastle's many lost churches. This one was up there with the most stunning. Jesmond, given its affluent roots, was a very pious area. In fact, it feels like there's a church or synagogue down every corner. This was the second church on this site, with a tin tabernacle erected here in 1877 as an overflow to the Brunswick Chapel off Northumberland Street. This one came 6 years later, built in the modified Gothic style. It was a huge upgrade on the previous with vestries, classrooms and a lecture hall making it a real spine of the affluent congregation. It seated 830-850 and was designed by John Joseph Lish, who also designed Gosforth's Wesleyan Church as well as the Presbyterian Church in Jarrow. The furnishings looked beautiful, with stained glass and carved work adorning every floor of the church. The foundation stone was laid by Bishop Matthew Simpson, an American Abolitionist who was a friend of Abraham Lincoln and gave the sermon at his funeral. Abolitionists were often present at foundation stone ceremonies of Wesleyan churches. It's well worth taking a read of his Wiki page. Many names you recognise were members of the church. Arthur Munro Sutherland was a lifelong member as well as the Fenwick's and Bainbridge's. Sadly though, the congregation shrank over time meaning there was little chance of anyone keeping up the maintenance of this church. The richest moved away from the city, and it was demolished in 1983 - ironically its centenary. The congregation blended with the chapel at St George's Terrace.