Catalogue description St John Presbyterian Church, South Shields

This record is held by Tyne and Wear Archives

Details of C.SS6
Reference: C.SS6
Title: St John Presbyterian Church, South Shields
Date: 1744-1977
Related material:

For records of St Paul and St John, see C.SS7.

Held by: Tyne and Wear Archives, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Creator:

St John Presbyterian Church, South Shields

Physical description: 14 series + 14 files
Immediate source of acquisition:

Accessions 1220 (part), 2015 (part), 3586 (part)

Subjects:
  • South Shields, County Durham
  • South Shields, Tyne and Wear
  • Religion
Administrative / biographical background:

(Formerly the South Shields Presbyterian Congregation)

 

It is generally agreed that the year 1662 marks the emergence of Presbyterianism in South Shields. Although no church records exist from that time, there are several reports concerning dissenters in South Shields.

 

The first Presbyterian church to be built in South Shields was at the head of Mile End Road and Long Bank in 1718. This was called the Low Meeting House. In 1778 there was a split in the congregation at the Low Meeting House following a dispute concerning who should be appointed minister.

 

The splinter group built a church in Heugh street in 1789 and eventually became the Mile End Road Presbyterian Church (see C.SS3).

 

The Low Meeting House remained without a minister until 1782. A second secession took place from the Low Meeting House in 1833 and a church built in Saville Street. In 1842 the congregation at the Low Meeting House and that of Saville Street reunited at the Saville Street Chapel and the Low Meeting House was sold.

 

In 1877 the congregation moved to Ocean Road as St John's and in 1968 St John's Church united with St Paul's and changed its name to St Paul and St John.

Link to NRA Record:

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