Church of St. Mary and St. Thomas Aquinas

An early Catholic church building with a castellated villa-like presbytery concealing the church behind; a curious throwback to pre-Emancipation times, when Catholic churches were often concealed so as not to attract attention. Stella Church was designed by the architect John Green. While he was working on the design for the Catholic Chapel and clergyman's house at Stella, he also had the contract for the design of the Scotswood Suspension Bridge which was opened in 1831. He was also responsible for the Grey Column (1837-8), The Theatre Royal Newcastle (1836-7), the Literary and Philosophical Society building (1822-1825), Penshaw Monument (1844) and many others. No detailed plans exist for the chapel though an illustration which was drawn on stone by John Green's son Benjamin shows the chapel in its original form before later alterations. It was built at an estimated cost of £1,500. It is a Gothic structure which buttresses and narrow lights. It was originally 68ft long by 33.5ft broad with a plain interior and was able to contain about 300 persons. The tower was 50ft high and was ornamented with a turret containing a library and was the residence of the chaplain. It was built of good ashlar stone and the presbytery was gabled and the turrets castellated. Originally the chancel was at the north end of the church with the main entrance at the south end. The church was opened by Dr Penswick, Vicar Apostolic, on 12 October 1831. In 1849 the church was enlarged, the chancel being moved to the south end and a new entrance inserted on the west wall in its present position. The alterations are thought to be by John Dobson. In 1972 the property was showing signs of age and decay when the stonework was restored, the rear of the church was repaired and a new screen, office and quiet room inserted {1}.
Chancel to the north, masking the south façade the attached presbytery, gabled and with castellated angle turrets, of good ashlar stone. Most of the stained glass is by Barnett of Newcastle (a pupil of Wailes) and dates from after 1849 though Pevsner notes some glass reputed to be by Pugin (and presumably made by Hardman). At the north (liturgical west) end of the nave is an organ gallery with a modern organ. The gallery has a modern timber front and modern glazing below enclosing a vestibule and office. This work apparently dates from the 1970s. The nave benches are also modern, in light wood, and may date from the same time.
The church was listed Grade II in 1985 with the following description:
'Roman Catholic church and presbytery. 1831-1832 by John Green; 1848- 849, porch, chancel and fleche by Dobson. Church: coursed squared sandstone with plinth and ashlar dressings; roof Westmorland slate with stone gable copings. Aligned north-south. Nave and chancel.
Six-bay nave has alternate block jambs and sloping sills to lancet windows; gabled buttresses between. In second bay steeply-gabled porch with elaborate doorway. Above porch a three-mouchettes window.Chancel has three lancets and stepped buttresses. Cross finials to low-pitched roof of nave and steeply-pitched of chancel. Octagonal stone belfry over chancel arch has weather vane finial to spirelet.
Interior: deep splays to lancets; pointed chancel arch with dog-tooth on shafted columns with foliage capitals. Chancel has sedilia on south, seat in imitation of wall tomb on north. Gothic revival altar, and wood communion rail.
Glass in the first north bay of nave, in memory of Thomas Parker, priest, died 1847. Other good Victorian glass, also in porch. Presbytery attached to north: sandstone ashlar; roof concealed by parapet. Perpendicular style. Three storeys, five windows x two. North elevation of one, three and one windows has central projecting bay and corner turret. Central pointed-arched door between shafts recessed in flat-headed surround, with mouchettes in spandrels under label mould; above this a three-light transomed window between bracketed niches under label moulds; ogee-headed niches in gable peak. Flanking recessed bays have two-light windows; square turrets one-light sash window with stone mullions.
Roof: high central ridge flanked by two low ledges. Interior: turrets provide corner cupboards; some Gothick, some three-over-three panelled doors; blocked door on second landing formerly communicated with organ loft of church.' LISTED GRADE 2