All Saints History

On the 3rd of September 1844 the Parish of All Saints’ was formed due to the need for additional accommodation within the Parish of Monkwearmouth. The Parish Church, St Peter’s had no free seats.
The Salem Chapel built in 1815 by the Congregationalists and since vacated was taken over by the Dean and Chapter of Durham and used as a Chapel of Ease.

It was decided by Dr. Maltby, the Lord Bishop of Durham, to have All Saints’ Church built. J. Dobson Esq., a well known local architect, was given the task to produce plans for a church which was to be built in the Early English style. The church was built on two acres of land given by the Dean and Chapter of Durham. The church was built for the sum of £2,200.

The church was opened for service on the 13th May 1849 and consecrated by the Bishop of Durham, Rev. E. Maltby on the 23rd October 1849. The vicarage was completed in 1852.

All Saints’ Parish Hall was built in Fulwell Road in 1904. The financial burden of the Parish Hall was finally settled in September 1907. A commemorative stone was placed in the front wall to celebrate this. Between September 1907 and April 1908 Pentecostal meetings were held in the hall. The hall was sold in 1996 to the Monkwearmouth Christian Fellowship.

Some of the parishioners who lived at the Roker end of the parish did not like mixing with the people who lived near the main church. A building put up for their use in the 1890’s was accidentally burnt down in 1907. The site was later used for St Aidan’s Chapel of Ease. In October 1909 the foundation stone was laid for a new church designed by Hugh Hedley and St Aidan’s Church, a dedicated and consecrated building, was completed in 1910. St Aidan's Church closed as a Church in 1935 and re-opened in 1951. St Aidan’s Church was finally closed on 1st September 1998 and converted into a private dwelling.