Historic St Paul's Church in Jarrow gets set to welcome back visitors

One of South Tyneside’s oldest buildings is set to reopen its doors to visitors this week for the first time since March, after being forced to close due to the coronavirus lockdown.
St Paul's church, JarrowSt Paul's church, Jarrow
St Paul's church, Jarrow

St Paul’s church in Jarrow is usually open to visitors from February to December, but has remained closed for the majority of this year as coronavirus emerged and lockdown was introduced.

Now, the church, which is more than 1,000 years old, is ready to reopen its doors and welcome back visitors to the historical site from Thursday September 10.

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The church, which was home to the Venerable Bede, will be limiting the number of visitors inside at one time, but booking will not be required.

Volunteer coordinator Freda Carney said after being closed for so long, the team is working hard to make sure everything is in place to ensure the church is safe and COVID- secure, and everyone is looking forward to the first visitors to walk back through the doors.

Ms Carney said: “The volunteers are all happy that we are opening again. I have missed it so much and I just can’t wait to be welcoming visitors into our 7th century church again. It feels great and is one step,nearer to getting back to a normal life!”

St Paul’s, originally a full monastery complex, was one of Europe’s influential centres of learning and culture in the 7th and 8th centuries and is twinned with St Peter’s, in Wearmouth Sunderland.

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St Paul’s will be open Monday-Saturday from 10.30am-3.30pm and Sunday from 2pm-4pm and visitors are asked to wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing.

The church will also be taking part in Heritage Open Days from September 11-20.

The Venerable Bede is known as the Father of English history, and chronicled the beginnings of English Christianity, as well as playing an important role in the development of the church and recording important discoveries.

As well as the church, ruins of the wider monastery can be explored.

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