THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

The Chapel of Our Lady of Jesmond, which some claim is the earliest place of Christian worship in Newcastle, is situated in this parish (in Jesmond Dene Road) and was a major place of pilgrimage. Pilgrim Street in Newcastle takes its name from the route followed by the pilgrims after crossing the Tyne and then proceeding to Jesmond. The chapel ruins are still used from time to time for worship. The chapel fell into disuse after the dissolution of the monasteries.

The present parish of St George was for many centuries in the parish of St Andrew (Newgate Street). The expansion of Jesmond took place in the mid 1850s and in due course Charles Mitchell, a shipbuilder who lived at Jesmond Towers (now La Sagesse School) offered to build a church on his own land. Mitchell engaged his shipyard architect, Thomas Spence to design the building. In 1888 the church was consecrated and Somerset Pennefather who had planned the project with Mitchell resigned the living of Clayton Memorial Church and was appointed first Vicar of St George’s.

St George’s is an outstanding example of Victorian art and architecture and is Grade 1 listed. The exterior is perhaps deceptively simple, though the Italianate detached campanile dominates the local skyline. The restrained magnificence of the interior rewards careful exploration –the glass, mosaics, carving and metalwork display a masterful blend of a traditional Early English architecture with art nouveau. The mosaics in the sanctuary are influenced by Ravenna.

Visitors to this beautiful parish church are recommended to take time in exploring the building, it is impossible to appreciate the great wealth of design in a few minutes: St George’s rewards careful observation to discover the rich variety of patterns and symbols with which this outstanding building is endowed.

"An Account of Jesmond" by FW Dendy (a former Churchwarden of St George’s) published in Archaeologia Aeliana 1904 and now reprinted by Newcastle City Libraries gives a full account of the history of this area.

"The Buildings of England: Northumberland" by Pevsner (revised 1992) and published by Penguin Books gives details of this church.