New plans unveiled to repairs this historic Sunderland chapel

Sunderland City Council has lodged an application with its own planning department for the South Chapel, in Bishopwearmouth Cemetery.

The Anglican 1856 chapel has been dilapidated for years, with scaffolding previously built to protect the tower and spirelet and the building being fenced off as part of an inspection.

Back in 2024, the council applied for listed building consent to carry out repairs, with a design and access statement noting the building’s “poor condition”.

Issues included the “spirelet leaning and at risk of collapse”, parts of the building “breaking apart”, the chapel roof “slowly collapsing into the nave”, missing slates and water damage.

An initial scheme of repairs was approved by the council’s planning and highways committee in January last year and covered both external and internal works.

A new application for listed building consent submitted in April of this month is seeking permission for further works to help bring the building back into use, including insulation and strengthening the existing roof.

Other proposed works include reinstating original stained glass, replacing modern concrete floors with a “breathable Limecrete floor” with underfloor heating and masonry repairs.

A heritage statement confirms the wider project involves the “chapel being refurbished for use for crematorium services whilst the main crematorium has a major refurbishment”.

The round one application submitted this month proposes “adjustments” to the previous repair scheme, which aimed to “make the building watertight”.

Works to the roof, window glass, floor and masonry repairs would ready the site for a separate round two application, which is expected to include “an interior fit out and new structures” such as a toilet block.

Sunderland City Council said it is “planning improvement works at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, starting with refurbishment of the South Chapel”.

A council spokesperson added: “This will allow services to continue while further works are carried out at the crematorium.

“All these improvements will help ensure facilities remain respectful, functional and fit for the future.”

A decision on the round one application is expected this year.

For more information, visit the council’s planning portal website and search for reference 26/00758/LB3.