St Peter's, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland
As churches go, there a bigger and more inspiring buildings around, but few as old as St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth.
The building has Saxon origins and dates from the very dawn of English Christianity.
The land upon which St Peter's was built, on the north bank of the River Wear, was gifted by King Ecgfrith of Northumbria to St Benedict Biscop in AD673.
The church is also associated with another great northern saint, namely the Venerable Bede, who is thought to have been born nearby.
Bede was educated in the monastery here and grew up to become a respected author and scholar. He was the author of 'Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum' (The Ecclesiastical History of the English People). In effect, he was the first English historian and earned the title of 'The Father of English History'.
If you've never visited St Peter's, I can thoroughly recommend you do. Never was so much history crammed into such a small patch and there are enthusiastic guides on hand to explain its importance. You can find out how the church became important in the making of glass, a tradition which continued right down the centuries and still does at the nearby National Glass Centre.
Also on site is Bede's Bakeshouse Cafe serving a range of tasty food and hot drinks.
St Peter's, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland
As churches go, there a bigger and more inspiring buildings around, but few as old as St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth.
The building has Saxon origins and dates from the very dawn of English Christianity.
The land upon which St Peter's was built, on the north bank of the River Wear, was gifted by King Ecgfrith of Northumbria to St Benedict Biscop in AD673.
The church is also associated with another great northern saint, namely the Venerable Bede, who is thought to have been born nearby.
Bede was educated in the monastery here and grew up to become a respected author and scholar. He was the author of 'Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum' (The Ecclesiastical History of the English People). In effect, he was the first English historian and earned the title of 'The Father of English History'.
If you've never visited St Peter's, I can thoroughly recommend you do. Never was so much history crammed into such a small patch and there are enthusiastic guides on hand to explain its importance. You can find out how the church became important in the making of glass, a tradition which continued right down the centuries and still does at the nearby National Glass Centre.
Also on site is Bede's Bakeshouse Cafe serving a range of tasty food and hot drinks.