Church Of St George

The Church of St George is a parish church dating to 1888, designed by T.R. Spence and funded by Charles Mitchell. It is constructed of sandstone ashlar with a graduated Lakeland slate roof, featuring stone gable copings. The church is in the Gothic style, incorporating Venetian elements in its tower design. It comprises an aisled nave with a gabled south porch and a west baptistry, an aisled chancel, a south-east tower, and a vestry. The exterior features a panelled and glazed recessed double door within the porch, protected by ornate iron gates. Tall two- and three-light windows with bar tracery are present, alongside lancets in the aisles, baptistry and vestry. The clerestory windows are also of two lights with plate tracery. The tower is tall with long, transomed belfry lancets and shafts, a corbel table, and a pyramidal roof. The vestry has a similarly pitched roof.

Internally, the five-bay arcades feature round piers with high moulded plinths and moulded capitals, supporting moulded two-centred arches. The interior is richly decorated with Art and Craft detailing, including a bronze statue of St. George within a canopied niche set into the west wall, which is constructed of Caen stone with carved tracery and niches. The west window and figures of the east window were designed by John W. Brown; further glass is by C. W. Mitchell, and two west aisle windows were made by O’Neil Bros., London, while others were produced by the Gateshead Stained Glass Co. A mosaic lining the chancel, designed by C. W. Mitchell and executed by Rust and Co., London, further enhances the interior. Wrought iron, brass, and copper work was completed by Alfred Shirley of Cable Street, London. A marble altar, reredos, and font were created by Emley and Co. of Newcastle, with an oak pulpit crafted by Ralph Hedley, and screens designed by him in collaboration with Messrs. Robson and Co., Newcastle. Stencilled decoration adorns the wagon roof of the nave, while the chancel roof displays painted square-panelled detailing, continued onto the aisle roofs by stencilling. A bronze memorial tablet signed by Frampton commemorates Charles Mitchell, a partner to Lord Armstrong, and incorporates marble and enamel decoration. The church remains remarkably well preserved.