St Willibrord with All Saints, Byker

Architecture

This Late Georgian Church was built in 1789 by Newcastle architect David Stephenson on the site of a previous church. It boasts a very rare eliptical chamber with pleasing acoustic properties. The tower is a slightly later addition. This is built in the same style as the rest of the church. It is for many an important part of the iconic quayside skyline. It also is blest with an impressive counter-balanced font cover and two organs, although one is unplayable.

Current Situation

The church's astonoshing beauty has been curtained off by two office blocks in the concrete-style. This was an act of public safety first and foremost. it was felt that an attractive building so close to the major road that leads onto the tyne bridge would cause crashes and loss of life. The windows have been caged in and allowed to become sooty from the passing traffic. This is largely to prevent the indulgence of that popular pastime: window smashing. Although the church is decomissioned it is still open to the pulic and is by no means derelict. There has without a doubt been deliberate neglect of this building. Where there had not been governmental forces proactive in clearing this gem from the face of the earth it would surely have flourished and become a well known destination.

Current Usage

The church is opened regularly to the public. It hosts concerts during the year and several at Christmas. It used to host a regular concert series: the 'late mix'. But this has since disappeared into a certain Norman-Foster-designed cultural-black-hole that is believed to be somewhere on the Gateshead Quayside.