Church of St Helen, St Helen Auckland

The Church of St Helen is a Church of England parish church in St Helen Auckland, County Durham. It is a Grade I listed building.

Church of St Helen, St Helen Auckland
The church and graveyard
Map
54°38′09″N 1°42′35″W / 54.63574°N 1.70977°W / 54.63574; -1.70977
LocationManor Road, St Helen Auckland, County Durham, DL14 9EN
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipTraditional Catholic
Websitehttp://www.sthelenschurch.co.uk/
History
StatusActive
Architecture
Functional statusParish church
Heritage designationGrade I listed
Specifications
BellsTwo
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Durham
ArchdeaconryArchdeaconry of Auckland
DeaneryAuckland
ParishSt. Helen Auckland
Clergy
Bishop(s)Rt Revd Stephen Race SSC (AEO)
Vicar(s)The Rev'd Canon Robert McTeer SSC
Honorary priest(s)The Rev'd Father Peter Anderton SSC
NSM(s)The Rev'd Edward Gunn, SSC
Laity
Organist(s)Joan Johnson
Organ scholarvacant
Churchwarden(s)John Bake and Anne Skillcorn

History edit

The church dates to the late 12th century and early 13th century.[1] The oldest surviving part of the church, the two easternmost bays of the nave, were built in 1120.[2] A low-pitched roof was added when the roof was rebuilt in the 15th century.[1] At the turn of the 16th century, a clerestory and battlements were built.[2] The original door to the church remains, making it "one of the oldest doors in England".[2]

On 21 April 1952, the church was designated a grade I listed building.[1]

In 2001, a restoration of the church took place. This involved renewing the floor, replacing the fixed pews with new movable ones, limewashing the walls, and repointing masonry. It cost £170,000.[3]

Present day edit

The Parish of St. Helen Auckland is part of the Archdeaconry of Auckland in the Diocese of Durham.[1]

The parish stands in the Traditional Catholic tradition of the Church of England.[4] As the parish rejects the ordination of women, it receives alternative episcopal oversight from the Bishop of Beverley (currently Stephen Race),[5] and it is affiliated with The Society.[6]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Historic England. "Church of St Helen (1196602)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "History". S. Helen's Church. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Restoration of St Helen's Church". S. Helen's Church.
  4. ^ "St Helen Auckland, West Auckland". A Church Near You. Archbishops' Council. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  5. ^ "St Helen, Auckland". See of Beverley. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Diocese of Durham: Parishes of the Society". The Society. Forward in Faith. Retrieved 26 July 2017.

External links edit