Heritage Open Days - Church of our Lady of Mercy and St. Godric

About

An oasis of peace in the bustle of the city, the Church of Our Lady of Mercy and St. Godric, built in 1864, stands proudly at the top of Castle Chare bank. Lovingly restored after the fire of 1985, this Edward Pugin designed building in the Gothic Revival style was once known as the ”Penny Church” from the donations of the working class Catholic families and the navvies who built the nearby railway cutting and the viaduct. The tower was added in 1909 and the war memorial in 1923. Of special interest are the stained glass windows, the high altar and the evocative black Stations of the Cross, kept as memorials of the fire. The Saint John Boste room houses a wooden carving of the martyr by Michael Doyle, a retired miner from Houghton le Spring. Scenes from the life of St. Godric are depicted in the windows above the high altar. In the side chapel dedicated to Our Lady, is a beautiful stained glass window depicting worshipping angels. After the fire, much of the glass was restored, but newly designed windows, illuminated at night, were installed in the tower. The church has level access from Castle Chare, an accessible toilet and baby changing facilities and a hearing loop system.

Visitors can enjoy a photographic quiz to help them uncover the riches of this beautiful building. Information sheets and informed volunteers will be available to answer questions and offer light refreshments. An exhibition will chart the history of the church as it grew with the city.