Sunderland Minster
Coordinates: 54°54′22″N 1°23′17″W / 54.906°N 1.388°W
| Sunderland Minster | |
 Sunderland Minster
 Sunderland Minster shown within Tyne and Wear |
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| OS grid reference | NZ393570 |
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| List of places: UK • England • Tyne and Wear | |
Sunderland Minster Church of St. Michaels and All Angels (commonly known as Sunderland Minster) is a church in Sunderland city centre, England. It was known as St. Michael's Church, serving the parish of Bishopwearmouth, but was renamed on 11 January 1998 in recognition of Sunderland's city status. In May 2007 the Minister ceased to act as the parish church of Bishopwearmouth. It is one of the Greater Churches.
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[edit] History
A Church dedicated to St. Michael has stood on this site for over a thousand years. For most of that time, it has been known as ‘Bishopwearmouth Parish Church’. The parish of Bishopwearmouth, south of the River Wear was founded in around 940AD, with an original stone church being built shortly afterwards. The first evidence of a church on the site arose in a 1930s excavation when Saxon stones were found. Due to colliery subsidence, the church was virtually re-built beyond recognition in the early 20th century.
In 1998, following the grant of City status, the Church was redesignated as ‘Sunderland Minster’: possibly the first Minster Church in England since the Reformation.
We made history in May 2007, when, with the adoption of Benedict Biscop as Sunderland’s Patron Saint, the church was redesignated as an Extra Parochial Place with the addition of St. Benedict Biscop in our title.
[edit] Role of the Minster
Until May 2007 the team of ministers carried out traditional parish duties as well as serving the city by hosting services of remembrance, providing chaplaincies for the retail and industrial workforces in the city centre, as well as being used by the University chaplaincy. It plays host to special services and worship events for the whole city. In 2007 the Minster ended its parish role, and these functions were transferred to the Parish Church of St Nicholas. Since then the Minster describes itself as "A church for the whole City".
The Minster is: 1 A Spiritual Heartbeat for the City The Minster holds the City of Sunderland, its people and its common life in prayer. From the Minster, the daily life of prayer and worship flows out through a wider Minster Community that is engaged in the life of the city. The Minster serves as a citywide focal point for public celebration, mourning and spiritual identity. The Minster is a place for people to connect with God in the heart of the city.
2 A Place for Meeting, Learning and Belonging The Minster is a hospitable place in the centre of the city where people meet together and share together a vision for the life of the city and its people. It is a place of belonging for the homeless and the troubled. A place to eat and to be refreshed. A place to be nurtured, affirmed, stimulated, and encouraged in the Christian journey. A venue for the arts, cultural events and exchange. The Minster is a place where people meet who would not normally meet together.
3 Nurturing a Spiritual City The Minster enhances the spiritual life of the city. It aims to nurture and encourage the building of ‘spiritual capital’ in the city. This is central to the work of economic regeneration and renewal of hopeful and skilled communities. The Minster enables the city to express it’s identity and connect with the past as well as be bold about its vision for the future. At times the Minster is a prophetic voice on issues of injustice and speaks on issues that need to be challenged.
4 A Place of Radical Service The Minster is a stimulus to and a force for loving service in the city. It is able to do things that others find difficult. It can push out the boundaries and be risky. It can focus on wider needs. It has a particular calling to those who work and play in the city centre day and night. Fostering partnership is the Minster’s usual way as well as actively encouraging and supporting the voluntary sector. The Minster is a place that listens to the needs of the city and its diverse communities and struggles.
5 Serving the wider Church in the City The Minster is a focal point for unity and common response amongst the Christian Churches in the city. It promotes ecumenical working and is a focal point for a number of sector chaplaincies in the city. The Minster is a catalyst to collective Christian action and seeks to serve and where appropriate be a helpful resource to the wider church.
There is a Gift Shop selling products and The Minster Cafe and Bistro situated inside, open on Monday to Saturday 09:00am to 3:00pm.
[edit] Music
The Minster has a mixed SATB choir and a junior choir that perform at the Sunday 10am Eucharist and also at 6pm Evensong on the 1st Sundays of the month).
In 2011, the minster will hold its first summer organ recital series on the fine Harrison & Harrison Organ.
Current Music Staff:
David Cox, Choirmaster & Organist
Tom Honeyman, Assistant Organist
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
OFFICIAL Sunderland Minster Website
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