Church Heritage Record 625117

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Byker: St Michael

Name:

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

Byker: St Michael
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Church
Church code:

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

625117
Diocese:

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

Newcastle
Archdeaconry:

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

Northumberland
Parish:

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

St. Michael with St. Lawrence Byker

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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 a Grade II Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
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 not in a Conservation Area

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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 on the Heritage at Risk Register (data verified 14 Nov 2024)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
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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.

Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 625117 Byker St Michael
Caption:

603242 

Exterior image of 625117 Byker St Michael
Description:

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

Photograph of the exterior of St Michael church Byker taken 11 June 2012
Year / Date:

2011, April 06

2012
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Bill Henderson
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Bill Henderson

Summary Description

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
This large Victorian church stands amid the Byker Wall housing development, the tall Gothic building providing a stark contrast to the brightly coloured cubic housing units. It stands at the highest point in Newcastle on the summit of a steep hill known as St Michael’s Mount, along the flanks of which the development winds. It was built in 1862-63 (architect W L Moffat) to serve the burgeoning population as Newcastle expanded to the south and east with the growth of local industry. Until this time Byker had been a small village, of which nothing now remains, though the church stands roughly on its location.

Visiting and Facilities

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The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
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Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

http://www.bykerchurch.co.uk

Sources and Further Information

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Bill Henderson (2012) Exterior image of 625117 Byker St Michael [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 625117 Byker St Michael
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16235/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~105393~115794 [Archive/Graphic material]

Groundplan

ICBS File Number - 05622

Coverage - 1860

Created by MOFFATT, William Lambie: b. 1808 - d. 1882 of Doncaster and Edinburgh

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 272 644

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

Administrative Area

Metropolitan District:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Newcastle upon Tyne District (B)

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.

This large Victorian church stands amid the Byker Wall housing development, the tall Gothic building providing a stark contrast to the brightly coloured cubic housing units.  It stands at the highest point in Newcastle on the summit of a steep hill known as St Michael’s Mount, along the flanks of which the development winds. There are some remnants of the older terraced housing at the top of the hill.  The large churchyard (1 acre) is partly laid to grass and part tarmac (there is a public right of way through the churchyard), with shrubs and several mature whitebeams around the inside of the stone perimeter wall. There are no burials.  There is a vicarage and verger’s house, both now boarded up, and a church hall, 1960’s in date.  Access is from Avondale Road to the south and from Headlam Street to the east.

Church Plan

Work in progress - can you help?

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

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

5-bay aisled nave, 5-bay chancel, north vestry, organ chamber and sacristy, south porch with tower over.

Dimensions

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Nave 18m  (56 feet) x 7.50m (23 feet), chancel 11m (34 feet) x 6m (19 feet).

Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

649 m2

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.

The church was built in 1862-63, to the designs of W L Moffat, to serve the burgeoning population as Newcastle expanded to the south and east with the growth of local industry.  Until this time Byker had been a small village, of which nothing now remains, though the church stands roughly on its location.  The site was quarried for stone and there were also coal mine workings in and around the hill, which may be partly responsible for the subsidence problems affecting the church hall.

The church is considered unusual in having been conceived from the beginning on so large and grand a scale for a purely working class community.  The original church consisted of nave, south aisle, chancel and vestry, with a tall tower over the entrance porch near the south-west corner. The church was expanded in 1936 by the addition of a gabled north aisle, elongation of the chancel, and the addition of organ chamber, vestry and choir.  Material from the recently demolished St Peters, Oxford Street was used.  

Exterior Description

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

The church is dominated externally by the tall tower, which stands proud of the rest of the building over the main entrance porch.  The broach spire is indeed visible from some distance, and can clearly be seen against the horizon on arrival into Newcastle by train.  The tower is 25m (79 feet) in height, of which approximately half is the spire.  This has one two-light traceried window with louvres in each broach face.  Below this is the belfry stage with pointed triple-lancet windows with louvres.  The middle stage has narrow pointed lancets.  The lower stage has the main doorway, pointed with nook-shafts and three orders of chamfers. The tower has angle buttresses.

The nave and aisles of the church have separate gabled roofs, and buttresses with two weatherings, as has the chancel.  The style of the architectural details is Decorated, with the exception of the 1936 additions which are Perpendicular, with small square headed windows in the vestry and side walls of the chancel extension.  Several of the original windows from the north nave wall, and the chancel east window, were inserted into the walls of the 1936 extensions.  There is a doorway directly opposite the south porch.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

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Who:
Xsite Architects
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:
Who:
W L Moffat
Role:
Architect
From:
01 Jan 1862
To:
31 Dec 1863
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
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)
STAINED GLASS (1896)
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)
STAINED GLASS (Unknown)

Building Materials

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

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Collapse Building MaterialsBuilding Materials
SANDSTONE (Unknown)
SLATE (Unknown)

Interior Image

Work in progress - can you help?

Interior Description

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

Spacious and uncluttered, the sparse internal furnishing and decoration reflect the evangelical tradition of the church. The fittings are original to the church.

The aisles have two-light windows.  The south aisle piers are Decorated in style, circular with scroll-moulded bases and capitals.  The arcade arches are pointed and have two orders of chamfers.  There is a Lady chapel at the east end.

The north aisle piers are octagonal with bell-moulded bases and have late Perpendicular moulded capitals, as if to emphasise the fact that this part of the church is a later addition.  There are also two piers of this type in the open western part of the chancel north wall, in which space the organ is housed.

The broad nave has a three-light stained glass west window.  The timber roof is carried on scroll-moulded corbels and is arch-braced with a collar, while the chancel has a barrel roof with green and white painted panels dating to the 1936 rebuild. Both have brattished wall plates.

The chancel arch is of two orders and is carried on corbels carved with bearded male heads.  The chancel has two two-light windows in the south wall and one in the north, and a three-light window with stained glass in the east wall.

The floor is of grey limestone flags, with wooden boards in the baptistery and under the pews.  There are three steps up to the chancel and one further to the sanctuary in the easternmost bay.

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).

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Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
BELL (1 of 1)
FONT (OBJECT) (1863)
LECTERN (1863)
ORGAN (OBJECT) (Unknown)
PLAQUE (OBJECT) (Unknown)
PLATE (Unknown)
PULPIT (1863)
REREDOS (1863)
SCROLL (Unknown)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

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

Work in progress - can you help?

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 272 644

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 Church.

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

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this 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?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

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

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

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

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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 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.

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Setting Significance Description:
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Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Level:
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Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
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
Work in progress - can you help?
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

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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

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All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the 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 1
Total number of animal species 1
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 2
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 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 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 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 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 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.

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WhoActionWhen
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionThu 04 Aug 2022 09:39:32
Oliver LackAdded SourceThu 04 Aug 2022 09:37:52
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeThu 04 Aug 2022 09:34:39
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeThu 04 Aug 2022 09:33:49
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeThu 04 Aug 2022 09:33:13
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeThu 04 Aug 2022 09:32:31
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 04 Aug 2022 09:31:08
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 04 Aug 2022 09:30:40
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 04 Aug 2022 09:29:56
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeThu 04 Aug 2022 09:29:14
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