St Paul’s Church was constructed in 1866 and completed in 1867. The Parish of Haswell was created from the Parish of Shotton and Haswell on the 20th of May 1870. During this period Haswell was a growing area, with, in 1881, a population in the Civil Parish of 6156 individuals. The Civil Parish differed from the Ecclesiastical Parish in area and size.

The organ was installed in 1886 and in 1889 a brass lectern was presented in memory of George William and Thomas Young. In 1913, St Paul’s was renovated at the cost of £1,150 (£92,288 in today’s value), adding the marble and mosaic floor and other features that survive to the present day.

Both main windows unusually depict the same scene, the Ascension of Christ. The original window above the Altar dates from between 1867 and 1913, whereas the window above the Font, was constructed as a war memorial after the Second World War, for the dead of that war.

In the Choir Stalls there remains a memorial to John Herbert Hayes, the then Assistant Organist, who was killed in July 1916, while serving in the Royal Engineers. The window near the pulpit, depicting St George and the Dragon, as well as the crest of the Royal Air Force, is in memory of Flight Lieutenant John Morgan Barrass, who was killed piloting a Lancaster Bomber, on Christmas Eve 1944.

The pulpit was constructed post-First World War and is dedicated to the Reverend Skeene, the priest in charge during the First World War, who from surviving War Office records assisted the war widows to access support.

In 2017, St Paul’s celebrated its 150th Anniversary of serving the community of Haswell. Generations have sat in our church for weddings, baptisms, services and funerals and we hope that this service to our community continues for generations to come.

Stuart J Major MA FRGS MRHistS