Chollerton-Churches.org.uk

The Parish Church of St Christopher, Gunnerton

Gunnerton Church was designed by John C. Hawes who was later to become an Anglican and then Roman Catholic priest, and in a later stage of his life, a hermit. His built architectural works are to be found in Western Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Bahamas.

The "British Architect" of 15th March 1901 describes Gunnerton Church as a "more than usually interesting village church". It is in the English traditional style, and it has hardly been altered. It is of special architectural and historical interest (Grade 2), and Hawes' work has recently been the subject of a mammoth study by John Taylor, an Australian architect.

In February 1898 Hawes had started work on the model of an imaginary church: it was placed on display in the foyer of the Royal Academy in London, and it was judged to be of "outstanding quality.

The publicity was to bring him his first commission - a new church at Gunnerton for the then vicar of Chollerton, Bishop Hornby, who was to become Bishop of Nassau. Hawes commented in 1948 that "my village church is as good as I ever did".

You can contact the Benefice at the following:

The Revd J Wylam
The Vicarage,
Chollerton,
Nr Hexham,
Northumberland
NE46 4TF

01434 681721
Email

Hadrian Awards 2007
Gunnerton Church has been given a prestigious Hadrian Award. Hadrian Awards celebrate and promote the best in architecture and design of the built environment in the North East and Cumbria.

To be selected for an award, schemes must meet a number of criteria, including being fit for purpose, and be an innovative trail-blazer. Both these aspects of the Award and more have been met.

The award is a tribute to Vincente Stienlet of Gosforth, our architect, who was sympathetic to the heritage of the church, the needs of the congregation and the community.