Church Heritage Record 613133

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Annfield Plain: St Aidan

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

Annfield Plain: St Aidan
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Closed Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

613133
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

Durham
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Durham
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Harelaw and Annfield Plain

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is not a Listed Building
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

The church is in the following Conservation Area: Annfield Plain

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Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Modern

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 613133 Annfield Plain St Aidan
Caption:

603242 

Exterior image of 613133 Annfield Plain St Aidan
Description:

It seems to be the wrong photograph. Provided coordinates come up with another church on geograph.org.uk

Photograph of the south and east elevations taken from cross-roads of Durham Road and Shieldrow Lane.
Year / Date:

2011, April 06

July 2015
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Archbishops' Council
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Catherine Townsend

Summary Description

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Built 1925 (as recorded by a stone in the east wall) and consecrated in 1929 (as recorded by a plaque in the vestry). To designs of Hicks and Charlewood of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Replaced a mission church on a different site (dated 1904?). Alterations and extensions to north side in 1980s to provide kitchen and toilets.

Visiting and Facilities

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church is closed for worship.
Date closed for worship: Unknown
Visitor toilets and parking available
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Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

http://www.staidanschurch.org.uk/

Sources and Further Information

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Catherine Townsend (2013) Exterior image of 613133 Annfield Plain St Aidan [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 613133 Annfield Plain St Aidan
Catherine Townsend (July 2015) Exterior image of 613133 Annfield Plain St Aidan [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 613133 Annfield Plain St Aidan
Chloe Granger (September 2014) Church plan of 613133 Annifield Plain St Aidan [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Church plan of 613133 Annifield Plain St Aidan
Catherine Townsend (July 2015) Interior image of 613133 Annfield Plain St Aidan [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior image of 613133 Annfield Plain St Aidan
James Miles (2018) Closed Churches [Digital Archive/Data]
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~162449~122099 [Archive/Graphic material]

Ground plan

ICBS File Number - 11895

Coverage - 1930

Created by HICKS (HENRY LEICESTER) & CHARLEWOOD (GEORGE E.)

Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 1 Bell [Archive/Index]
1 Bell

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: NZ 172 512

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

Unitary Authority:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

County Durham

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

Annfield Plain is in the north-west of Country Durham, roughly 15 miles south-west of Newcastle and 12 miles north-west of Durham, between Chester-le-Street and Consett.

The church occupies a corner site on Durham Road (B6168) which passes the east and south boundaries, where it crosses with Shieldrow Lane. Its site gives the building some prominence, though it is well screened by trees along the south elevation. It is the furthest boundary of the Annfield Plain conservation area and is noted in the conservation area appraisal as “a dark red austere building, simple in style, with no decoration”. Durham road is wide and lined with stone terraces, with the church a focal end view.

The church has a small curtilage, with limited off-street parking for one or two cars, bound by a brick wall with iron fence, with additional privet hedges. Trees (silver birch and chestnut) and grassed area to south side. Uneven paving stones form paths around the church. There are no burials or ashes, but there is a memorial to a nearby mining disaster that occurred in the adjacent former colliery in 1947. The plot extends beyond the immediate boundary to the west though it is overgrown and not used.

Pedestrian iron gates between brick gate piers to south side and similar for cars in north-east corner. Small courtyard for 2 to 3 cars.

Church Plan

Church plan of 613133 Annifield Plain St Aidan
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Church plan of 613133 Annifield Plain St Aidan
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Plan of the church, taken from the last Quinquennial Inspection Report.
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
September 2014
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
C & G Architects
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Chloe Granger

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

6-bay nave with 2-bay lean-to north and south aisles towards the east end of the nave. North aisle partitioned to form parish room, with kitchen added to west, and toilets to east. Chancel with north organ chamber and north vestry. Bellcote, south of chancel.

Dimensions

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Nave – 25.5m long x 9m wide ; chancel -9m long x 6m wide

Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

Work in progress - can you help?

Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

This is the first known building on the site, so the archaeological potential is low.

Annfield Plain is a former colliery village. A coal pit was to the south of the church. There was a disaster there in 1947 and a memorial to those who died is located in the churchyard. Annfield Plain grew rapidly in the C19th. Between 1831 and 1841four pit shafts and coke ovens at Bankfoot were established and in 1832 the Stanhope and Tyne Railway was opened. The town is characterised by workers’ housing.

A mission hall was establish on another site in 1904 (?) and after St Aidan’s was built functioned as a hall for many years. It has since been sold and redeveloped. The foundation stone in the east elevation records the building of the church in 1925. The QIR records the architects as Hicks and Charlewood of Newcastle Upon Tyne. A plaque in the vicar’s vestry records its’ consecration in 1929 by Lord Bishop of Durham. Annfield Plain became a parish in its own right at that time. The chancel was renovated in 1924 in memory of Barbara Vevers, and after the church hall was sold in the 1980s, the north aisle was partitioned to make a parish room. A kitchen was added 1981-2 and toilets in 1984.

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

Large but simple brick structure with fairly shallow roofs and tall brick elevations. Round-headed lancets in pairs, three in the east end. Perspex secondary glazing. Lean-to aisles and north vestry. Access through vestry in north-east corner, or doors in south-west or south-east corners. The main entrance in the south-west corner has tiered orders of brickwork framing the door and three steps. Stone finial over east gable. A bell-turret projects on the south side, to the east of the nave gable end. The chancel is lower than the nave.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Who:
Christopher Downs
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:

Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

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Collapse Building Fabric and FeaturesBuilding Fabric and Features
AISLE (20th century)
BELLCOTE (20th century)
CHANCEL (20th century)
KITCHEN (20th century)
NAVE (20th century)
ORGAN (COMPONENT) (20th century)
VESTRY (20th century)

Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

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Collapse Building MaterialsBuilding Materials
BRICK (20th century)
PAINTED PLASTER (20th century)
SLATE (20th century)
STONE (20th century)
TIMBER (20th century)

Interior Image

Interior image of 613133 Annfield Plain St Aidan
Caption:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Interior image of 613133 Annfield Plain St Aidan
Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Photograph of the inside of the church, looking east.
Year / Date:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
July 2015
Copyright:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Archbishops' Council
Originator:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Catherine Townsend

Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

The interior is a large space with a level floor of wood boards with cork tiles laid in the aisles. Seating is provided by wood chair. These have been cleared towards the west end where tables and modern upholstered metal framed chairs have been arranged. The south-west door has an inner lobby, and the westernmost bay is partitioned by a simple wood screen. The font is positioned in the centre beneath the west wall with its 2 single light windows. The ceiling, formed of partially hidden steel trusses with stepped boarding behind, is showing signs of deterioration and is painted a bright red. Windows are of clear diamond leaded panes with a coloured border. Modern domestic light fittings are suspended from the ceilings. Wall-mounted gas heaters are fixed to the north and south nave walls.

Towards the east end of the nave the south aisle is separated from the nave by a 2-bay round-arched arcade. Within it the windows contain stained glass. There is an altar towards the east end of the aisle and another doorway in the south-east corner. The north aisle would have mirrored this but has been partitioned, leaving an impression of the arcades only.

A high round-headed chancel arch leads from the nave to the chancel. A wood screen fitted beneath separates the nave and spaces. There is one step up. Choir stalls oppose each other inside. An organ is positioned within an arch to the north. The sanctuary is raised by another step and the altar on two further steps. A door to the north leads through to the vestry. The chancel and choir has wood panelling all around. Names are inscribed into the panelling behind the south side choir stalls as a war memorial.

The partitioned north aisle functions as a meeting space, with a kitchen up steps at one end, and toilets within an extension north of the organ chamber.

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
ALTAR (20th century)
BELL (1 of 1)
CHAIR (20th century)
FONT (COMPONENT) (20th century)
INSCRIBED OBJECT (20th century)
LECTERN (20th century)
ORGAN (COMPONENT) (20th century)
PEW (COMPONENT) (20th century)
PULPIT (20th century)
RAIL (20th century)
REREDOS (20th century)
SCREEN (20th century)
STAINED GLASS (20th century)
STALL (20th century)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

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Collapse Portable Furnishings and ArtworksPortable Furnishings and Artworks
BOOK (20th century)

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: NZ 172 512

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

Work in progress - can you help?

Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

The church has no evidence of bats

Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Closed Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Closed Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

Work in progress - can you help?

Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

Low
Setting Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The building is located within the conservation area.
Fabric Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Low
Fabric Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
The church is of local architectural interest only.
Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Contents are overall of low aesthetic significance.
Community Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?

Church Renewables

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Bio Mass:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Air Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Closed Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

CategoryTotal species recorded to date
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED 0
Total number of animal species 0
Total number of plant species 0
Total number of mammal species 0
Total number of birds 0
Total number of amphibian and reptile species 0
Total number of invertebrate species 0
Total number of fungi species 0
Total number of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) 0
Total number of ferns 0
Total number of flowering plants 0
Total number of Gymnosperm and Ginkgo 0

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Closed Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Closed Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Closed Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Closed Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Closed Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Anna CampenModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionWed 19 Jul 2017 15:12:43
Anna CampenModified asset data - Modified the Location and Setting DescriptionWed 19 Jul 2017 15:11:42
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeWed 19 Jul 2017 15:10:48
Anna CampenAdded object typeWed 19 Jul 2017 15:10:22
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeWed 19 Jul 2017 15:10:01
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeWed 19 Jul 2017 15:06:41
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeWed 19 Jul 2017 15:05:26
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeWed 19 Jul 2017 15:04:41
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeWed 19 Jul 2017 15:03:58
Anna CampenAdded interior feature typeWed 19 Jul 2017 15:02:49
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