Bishopwearmouth St Michael

Parish Notes Durham

Bishopwearmouth St Michael & All Angels

[Population 1911: 9,003 incl. 1,409 persons enumerated in the Sunderland Union Workhouse, and 244 in the Royal Infirmary]

The Parish
Church
Townships
Topography
History

Its Records
The Parish Chest
Non-Parochial Records
Monumental Inscriptions
Indexes

Church

The parish church of St. Michael, at the top of High street, is probably the third church to occupy this site, it being supposed that the first church stood there in 925-940. The present church was originally built in the 12th century, but has undergone great structural alterations. The church is a cruciform building of stone, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, trancepts, west porches and an embattled western tower containing a clock and 8 bells: the trancepts are in the Decorated style and were added in 1849: the east window is a memorial to the Rev. J.P. Eden, a former rector; there are several other stained windows, including one to the Ven. Robert Long M.A. rector 1883-1908: the organ was built in 1887: there is some good carved oak in the chancel, and in the west porch lies the fractured and mutilated effigy of a knight in armour, girt with sword and dagger; this figure, which represents Thomas Middleton esq. of Chevelingham, Northumberland, ob. circa 1400, once lay on an altar tomb in the north aisle, but the tomb was broken up on the rebuilding in 1807: the communion plate includes a cup dated 1574, and two others which are used as patens and are dated 1608 and 1718 respectively, two flagons presented by Jane Gibson in 1726, a paten presented by Dr. Robert Graye, rector 1805-27, and three pewter dishes; there is also a service of solid silver, presented in 1889 under a bequest by Robert Henry Allan esq. of Blackwell Hall, and consisting of a flagon, two chalices, two patens and an almsplate, all richly embossed and bearing the quartered arms of the donor: the church has been restored since 1873, at a cost of £4,800, and affords 1,500 sitting. [Kelly's Durham Directory (1914) page 434.]

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Non-Parochial Records

Newcastle Courant 8/6/1838 The executors under the will of the late Miss Busby have paid to the Rev. Charles Grant, L.L.D., the treasurer of the Bishopwearmouth and Sunderland Infirmary, the sum of 45l., being the residue, after deducting 5l. for legacy duty, of the bequest of that lady to the above-named institution.

Newcastle Courant 14/12/1838 [marriage] The 9th inst. at Bishopwearmouth, Mr Robert Pigg, to Miss Mary Bestford, all of that place.

Newcastle Courant 19/10/1849 An order has been received from the General Board of Health to discontinue interments in the old church-yard at Bishopwearmouth.

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Monumental Inscriptions

Twenty-nine stones are all that remain of the Gill Bridge Churchyard and Cemetery which once belonged to Bishopwearmouth St Michael and All Angels. They are all very badly damaged and eroded, and stand up against a wall with a steep slope below them. These inscriptions have been added to BK-009 - Bishopwearmouth St Michael & All Angels Monumental Inscriptions and Dedications (now Sunderland Minster).

1 Sacred to the memory of Mary White wife of Henry White died June 28th 1817 age 30 years. Also Henry G. White son of the above died November 28th 1816 age 6 months. Also Robert white son of the above died January 16th 1817 aged 8 years.
2 to 6 are illegible
7 To the memory of John Lawson
8 is illegible.
9 Thomas Е [WadЕ]ЕЕ January 2 18Е William son of the above Е Е
10 to 12 are illegible.
13 RobertЕ Е Е
14 Sacred to the memory of Isabel Yallowley who died October 20th 1814 age 73 years also her son John Yallowley who died January 7th 1850 aged 45 years also his son John William Yallowley who died August 16th 1850 aged 6╜ years.
15 In memory of Anthony Moor, Slater who died April 21st 1846 aged 38 years.
16 to 20 are illegible.
21 The burial ground of John and Barbara Briley, four children of the above died in infancy.
22 to 24 are illegible.
25 Erected in memory of Joseph and Dorothy Harrison. Elizabeth Towers daughter of the above who died November 17th 1839 age 23 years also Two brothers and a sister who died in their younger years. Mary Ann Clark daughter of the above died February 10th 1849 aged 30 years
26 to 29 are illegible.

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