St Paul
Winlaton, Tyne & Wear
Interesting Georgian church to a design by Ignatius Bench in 1823 and reordered to ecclesiastical principles in 1894.
Originally intended as a mausoleum for George Bowes, the chapel was built between 1760 and 1812, and he was eventually buried in the crypt along with other family members. Protected by double iron doors at the rear of the chapel, the crypt is usually open to the public only on Heritage Days.
Inspired by the Pantheon in Rome the chapel combines the form of a Greek cross with a porticoed dome raised on a high drum, decorated with festoons. It is constructed of local sandstone, with mainly cherrywood interior furnishings.
Unusually, the entrance to the chapel is on the east side behind the altar. Under the dome you will find a rare mahogany three tiered pulpit. There are two sets of boxed pews: one for the Bowes-Lyon family and the other for the chaplain, dignitaries and tenant farmers; servants sat in the curved stone seats around the side.