St. George’s church, Cullercoats sits like a beacon immediately across the road from the beautiful sandy beach of the Long Sands, Tynemouth. It’s 180 foot spire can be seen from miles away, is the first to be seen by visitors arriving by sea and welcomes passengers in the air arriving at Newcastle Airport. It is an integral part of the Coastal Heritage Trail stretching from the mouth of the river Tyne to Whitley Bay.
It is an iconic, grade I listed building dating from 1884 built by the Duke of Northumberland in memory of his father. The architect was John Loughborough Pearson, one of the great architectural geniuses of the 19th century, who built in Gothic revival style. His churches are noted especially for their vaulted roofs. The greatest of his churches is undoubtedly Truro Cathedral, but other great examples are St. Augustine’s, Kilburn in London, St. Alban’s, Birmingham, and St. John’s, Upper Norwood in London. Partly because of the stone he uses for these buildings, but mostly because of the high brick vaults, the acoustics for singing are always outstanding. The church also houses a world famous Lewis organ.
