Church Of St Paul (St Pauls United Reform Church) (Berwick upon Tweed)
Presbyterian chapel. Originally built in 1754 but rebuilt in 1878. Called St Paul's. Now United Reformed Church. (1)
Additional reference. (2)
The church was originally Presbyterian Congregational, with a building dating from 1752. The current building however dates to 1878, and is now a United Reformed church. Extensive internal reorganisation has taken place, completed in 1999, when the gallery was blocked off, the pews and raised pulpit removed and a narthex created. A mission hall was built to the rear of the church in 1904 and refurbished in 2003.
The building is constructed of dressed sandstone with Welsh slate roofs. It faces Main Street to the north-east and has a square tower with a tall spire at the eastern corner. The north-east end has a central pointed arched entrance with small pointed arch windows to either side, all with hood moulds, and a large traceried window above. The tower on the left side has three stages with a window in each stage, and the spire above has a clock face on each side and louvred openings to each corner. Four tall leaded pointed arch windows extend down each side of the church with two more at the rear, and the vestry behind links the church to the hall.
Internally there is an entrance lobby with stairs leading up to the right. Doors lead to a narthex area with steel beams supporting the closed off gallery above and half-glazed screens to the main body of the church. Cast iron columns in the church support the gallery, and the gallery front survives below partitions and a suspended ceiling. A low dais at the front contains the wooden altar, reading desk etc, with an arched niche above containing a large wooden cross. Doors to right and left lead to the vestry room. In the gallery the remnants of pews survive at the rear, and the original ceiling of open basket arch trusses is visible.
The building was assessed for listing in 2009, but did not meet the criteria for addition to the list for the following reasons:
It is a modest example of a type of non-conformist church that survives in large numbers throughout the country, many of which are of greater architectural distinction.
It has undergone extensive internal alteration, including the loss of pews, pulpit and gallery and the reorganisation of the internal spaces.
Little remains of original decorative interest in the furnishings or fittings. (3)(4a)
Additional reference. (2)
The church was originally Presbyterian Congregational, with a building dating from 1752. The current building however dates to 1878, and is now a United Reformed church. Extensive internal reorganisation has taken place, completed in 1999, when the gallery was blocked off, the pews and raised pulpit removed and a narthex created. A mission hall was built to the rear of the church in 1904 and refurbished in 2003.
The building is constructed of dressed sandstone with Welsh slate roofs. It faces Main Street to the north-east and has a square tower with a tall spire at the eastern corner. The north-east end has a central pointed arched entrance with small pointed arch windows to either side, all with hood moulds, and a large traceried window above. The tower on the left side has three stages with a window in each stage, and the spire above has a clock face on each side and louvred openings to each corner. Four tall leaded pointed arch windows extend down each side of the church with two more at the rear, and the vestry behind links the church to the hall.
Internally there is an entrance lobby with stairs leading up to the right. Doors lead to a narthex area with steel beams supporting the closed off gallery above and half-glazed screens to the main body of the church. Cast iron columns in the church support the gallery, and the gallery front survives below partitions and a suspended ceiling. A low dais at the front contains the wooden altar, reading desk etc, with an arched niche above containing a large wooden cross. Doors to right and left lead to the vestry room. In the gallery the remnants of pews survive at the rear, and the original ceiling of open basket arch trusses is visible.
The building was assessed for listing in 2009, but did not meet the criteria for addition to the list for the following reasons:
It is a modest example of a type of non-conformist church that survives in large numbers throughout the country, many of which are of greater architectural distinction.
It has undergone extensive internal alteration, including the loss of pews, pulpit and gallery and the reorganisation of the internal spaces.
Little remains of original decorative interest in the furnishings or fittings. (3)(4a)
N4212
Georgian (1714 to 1830)
Victorian (1837 to 1901)
Early 20th Century (1901 to 1932)
Late 20th Century (1967 to 2000)
21st Century (2001 to 2100)
Victorian (1837 to 1901)
Early 20th Century (1901 to 1932)
Late 20th Century (1967 to 2000)
21st Century (2001 to 2100)
Disclaimer -
Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.