Percy Bacon & Brothers Stained Glass

Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

Gateshead Low Fell, St Helen's

Tyne and Wear

St Helen's Church, Gateshead Low Fell.

Plan of the church by John Wardle.

North Aisle 4; He Shall Feed His Flock, and a young Christ teaching in the temple; 1903, dedicated 1925.

St Helen's Church, Gateshead Low Fell

Posted 20 July 2024

Until the 1850’s Low Fell (or Gateshead Low Fell as it was commonly known) was but a small village. With the coming of the Gateshead to Durham Turnpike (now Durham Road) the area rapidly became urbanised with rich Newcastle merchants and industrialists building large houses in the area. At the time the area was served by St John’s Church on Sheriff Hill (consecrated 30 August 1825), and the growing population of Low Fell endured a steep climb to attend it. Consequently the need for another church in the area became all too apparent, and land was given for the purpose by Lady James. A local coal mining industrialist, Edward Joicey (d. 1879) of Whinney House, a partner in the firm of Joicey & Co. put up the whole of the £13,000 required to build the church. He also gifted £300 per annum for the original living of the vicar. John Wardle the well-known Newcastle Architect prepared the designs. The foundation stone was laid on the 29th of October 1873, and the church consecrated by the Bishop of Durham on 29th August 1876. Build of stone, the church is unapologetically gothic, consisting of nave, chancel with apsidal apse, wide north and south transepts. The chancel is flanked north and south by a vestry and organ chamber. The square tower which doubles as the south porch is offset and boasts a broach spire. All the windows are individual lancets, with those in the transepts forming groups of triple openings. Initially the only stained glass was in the east, by William Wailes of Newcastle.

St Helen's Church, Gateshead, Low Fell, South Transept window by Percy Bacon and Brothers

South Transept: The Four Evangelists, 1900.

South Transept: St Mark.

South Transept: St Matthew.

South Transept: St Luke.

South Transept: St John.

South Transept: Four Evangelists, 1900.

South Transept: The Four Evangelists. 1900

Both north and south transept end walls are pierced by three identical tall lancets. Percy Bacon filled these with similar arrangements of standing figures in his trademark elaborate canopies and architectonic niches. The south transept depicts the four evangelists, Ss Mark, Matthew, Luke and John with their symbols on shields beside them.

On a brass plate on the wall below the central lancet, the window is dedicated to the church's founder and benefactor, Edward Joicey of Whinney House. It reads:

To the Glory of God and in grateful memory of
Edward Joicey of Whinney House
who built this Church A.D. 1876.
This window is erected by present and past parishioners A.D. 1900.

The brass is likely to have been designed by the Bacon Studios.

Dedication brass to Edward Joicey

The window is unsigned.

St Helen's Gateshead Low Fell North transept window by Percy Bacon and Brothers

North Transept: Four Old Testament Prophets, 1901.

North transept: Jeremiah.

North transept: Ezekiel.

North transept: Isaiah.

North transept: Daniel.

North Transept: Four Old Testament Prophets, 1901.

North Transept: Old Testament Prophets. 1900

Although the dedication brass suggests the window was installed in 1901, it is clear that both north and south transept windows were installed coevally as a unified scheme. The north transept lancets follow the same design as those in the south, opposite, with standing figures of four Old Testament prophets, Jeremiah (top centre), Ezekiel (bottom centre), Isaiah (left), and Daniel (right). Scrolls above the figures quote passages from the Old Testament:

Jeremiah: "I will be their God and they will be my people" (Jeremiah 32:38).
Ezekiel: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within
you" (Ezekiel 36:26)
Isaiah: "The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing unto Him" (Isaiah 35:10)
Daniel: "They that be wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament" (Daniel 12:3).

On a brass plate on the north wall which was originally below the north transept central lancet, the window is dedicated to the church's first incumbent, William Henry Simons. It reads:

To the Glory of God and in affectionate grateful memory of
William Henry Simons L.L.D.
First Vicar of this parish A.D. 1876 - 1894.
This window was given by parishioners and friends A.D. 1901.

The brass is also likely to have been designed by the Bacon Studios.

Memorial brass to William Henry Simons first vicar of St Helen's Gateshead Low Fell

The window is unsigned.

References and Notes: Use your browser's Back button to return to text.

For further history of St Helen's see the church's website at https://www.sthelenslowfell.com/building

Location Map:

NGR: NZ 25561 60320
Sat Nav Post Code: NE9 6BR