Newcastle: St Barnabas & St Jude
Overview
Grid reference: NZ 260 654
The most striking feature of the building externally is its fairly considerable length; the aisle windows are insignificant in size and widely spaced, but the upper clerestorey windows are large and impressive - extending for eight bays on either side of the church (the last two bays at the east being the chancel).
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave and chancel in one, with a canted three-bay apse at either end; the nave has narrow passage aisles north and south; on the north side of the chancel is what appears to be a transept but is in fact the base of the intended tower which (as a model at the west end of the church shows) was to have had a lofty belfry stage and a stone spire with a circlet of pinnacles round the top of the tower. Hugging the east and north flanks of the chncel apse and continuing round to the 'transept' is a single-storey vestry block.
Exterior Description
Because the tower was never completed the building does not, in fact, make a very powerful impact on the nearby houses of the parish (which are mostly red brick of c.1898-1900). The most striking feature of the building externally is its fairly considerable length; the aisle windows are insignificant in size and widely spaced, but the upper clerestorey windows are large and impressive - extending for eight bays on either side of the church (the last two bays at the east being the chancel). Each window consists of three principal lights, with cinquefoiled heads; the apex of each light is flanked by a mouchette on either side and then there is a flat transom extending across; above that are three further lights each again cinquefoiled, and contained within a triangularhead. The tracery is an ingenious and attractive combination of Perpendicular elements. The aisle windows on the other hand (there are six for the south aisle, compared with eight clerestorey windows, and then the western bay of the aisle serves as the south-west perch which is the principal entrance to the building) simply consist of two plain cinquefoiled lights under a flat head. The west bay of the north aisle is also a porch. On the north side of the chancel is the lower part of the intended tower, rising to just above the eaves' level of the nave and chancel roof. At the north-west corner of it is an octagonal bell turret, which rises about another twelve feet. The north window, to what would have been the ringing chamber, is of three main lights with elegant faintly Art Nouveauish tracery in the head. The main facing material is a rock-finished grey coloured stone, and the roof coverings are of slates.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
c. 1926
East window: these three windows are the best glass in the church, but they are not distinguished. They are of c.1926 and by Atkinson of Newcastle in the manner of late Kempe.
Stained Glass
West Jindow: only the central window has stained glass, and this is rather dark and difficult to see because of its height. (Memorial to Fallen Comrades of the Northern Cyclist Battalion 1914-1919).
Stained Glass
The aisle windows also have stained glass.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior space seems vast. It is indeed lofty, and also wide; and the sense of undefined space is no doubt partly due to the very narrow passage aisles and tha un-interrupted space between. Seen from within, the large clerestorey windows are found to be contained within a shallow blank relieving arch; this relieving arch is, in each bay, supported by throe sided attached half-columns which rise out of the sides of the arcade piers. The piers are of the same grey stone as the exterior. Above the piers the walls have been painted cream; the aisle walls behind and lower down are beige, and the walls of the Sanctuary rising to the full height of the building are painted blue. The roof is continuous from west to east, with the same construction for the apse at both ends of the building. It is a roof of no mean quality, in fact; at the division between each bay the roof is supported on a long slender wall-post, the base of which terminates in a sharp point; half-way up the wall-post carved brace extends upwards, interrupted at wallplate level by a quasi hammer beam. The curved braces on either side extend upwards almost to the crown of the roof, where the tie-beam is so close to the ridge-beam as to be almost invisible;; and a stubby king-post rises above the tie-beam in each bay. Between each main bay of the roof is a subsidiary system, indetical to the main ones except that the braces begin at wall-plate level and there is no wall-post or hammer-beam.
Fixtures and fittings
Organ (object)
Two manual, by Harrison and Harrison of Durham.
Reredos
The reredos and altar are of panelled woodwork, with an elaborate cornice and bratishing at the top of the reredos. The front of the reredos is sub-divided into three elements, those on either side having painted figures (a large angel on either side, one playing the psaltery; and two martyrs beneath each angel).
Pulpit
Wooden
Stall
Wooden
Lectern
1901
Memorial brass lectern of quite distinguished character and workmanship.
Churchyard
Grid reference: NZ 260 654
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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