About Us

Team Parish of North Wearside
St Bede's Church closed on
Sunday 15th April 2012

Final High Mass
Celebrant & Preacher Right Rev. Justin Welby
Bishop of Durham
in St Bede's Church, Town End Farm Sunderland
on Sunday 15h April 2012 at 10.30pm

Services are still held in the Team Parish
Sunday:
10.00am Holy Communion Red House St Cuthbert
10.00am Holy Communion Southwick Holy Trinity

THE Bishop of Durham joined worshippers for an emotional final service at a Wearside church. 

St Bede the Venerable, in Town End Farm, Sunderland, held its last Sunday service at the weekend. It has served the local community for 45 years.

The Right Reverend Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham, was among those who attended the church, which has faced rising running costs and repair bills in recent years.

“Although the present building was built in 1967, people have previously met as a congregation in the Farmhouse, in Bootle Street,” said vicar Steve Elstob.

“As the congregation outgrew the Farmhouse, a new building was seen to be necessary.

He added: “St Bede the Venerable Church has therefore served the local area for 45 years, touching people’s lives in a variety of ways, through weddings, baptisms, funerals, children’s groups, a ladies’ fellowship and a men’s workshop.”

However, Rev Elstob said that although services will no longer be held at the church, it will continue to be used for community events as discussions continue into its long-term future.

He added: “Although it is with sadness that the congregation is to move once more, the building itself will remain open for community use as discussions continue on how to enable the building to be more useful to local need.

“As a church congregation, we are giving ourselves a bit of time to find a new place to continue to meet and worship in the Town End Farm area, though services continue at St Cuthbert, Red House, and Holy Trinity, Southwick.”