History
A Church dedicated to St Michael has stood on this site for over a thousand years. For most of that time, it has been known as ‘Bishopwearmouth Parish Church’. The parish of Bishopwearmouth, south of the River Wear was founded in around 940AD, with an original stone church being built shortly afterwards. The first evidence of a church on the site arose in a 1930s excavation when Saxon stones were found. Due to colliery subsidence, the church was virtually re-built beyond recognition in the early 20th century.
In 1998, following the grant of City status, the Church was redesignated as ‘Sunderland Minster’: possibly the first Minster Church in England since the Reformation.
In May 2007, with the adoption of Benedict Biscop as Sunderland’s Patron Saint, the church was redesignated as an Extra Parochial Place with the addition of St Benedict Biscop in its title.
Read more about this topic: Sunderland Minster
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The custard is setting; meanwhile
I not only have my own history to worry about
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Unfinished concepts that can never bring themselves to the point
Of being, with or without my help, if any were forthcoming.”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)
“Racism is an ism to which everyone in the world today is exposed; for or against, we must take sides. And the history of the future will differ according to the decision which we make.”
—Ruth Benedict (1887–1948)
“Bias, point of view, fury—are they ... so dangerous and must they be ironed out of history, the hills flattened and the contours leveled? The professors talk ... about passion and point of view in history as a Calvinist talks about sin in the bedroom.”
—Catherine Drinker Bowen (1897–1973)