St Helen, Manor Road, St Helen Auckland 2000

St Helen's church was built in the 12th century, and a west bay was added a little later. Two chantry chapels and the chancel were added in the 13th century. The south wall was rebuilt in circa 1840. The church was then thoroughly restored in 1866. (1) (2)

The church consists of a three-bay aisled nave with a two-storeyed south porch, and a chancel with two aisles that do not extend its full length. The walls of the nave and aisles are of rubble laid in discontinuous courses, the roof is not visible. The two eastern bays of the nave contain part of the aisle-less nave of the earliest phase of the church. The chamfered plinth at the western angles is the only surviving architectural feature, and it dates the building to the first half of the 12th century. Aisles were added to the nave circa 1170-80, the chancel may also have been rebuilt at this time. In the early 13th century the nave and aisles were extended westwards by a bay. The chancel chapels are probably late 15th-early 16th century additions which were altered in 1866 when the church was restored. The nave clerestory was either added or reconstructed between 1500 and 1550. A major restoration was undertaken in 1866 by Austin and Johnson, they returned the church to a more 'medieval' character. (10)