St James & St Basil

St James & St Basil's is regarded as being amongst the great churches of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Sir James Knott, a wealthy local ship builder, funded the building of the church in memory of his sons, James and Henry Basil Knott, who died in the First World War. They are remembered in the stain glass windows of the chapel. It is said to have been built with stone from Dobson's 1830 Newcastle prison. Inside, the church has windows designed by Edward Woore. Around the south and north windows of the church parts of Psalm of 104 are depicted 'God causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and herb for the service of man: and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart'. The organ was built for the new church by JW Walker and Sons and has one of only two Celestial organs in the country. The organ pipes are located high above the church, the main organ in the north nave of the church and the celestial pipes in the south aisle. The sound is unique and greatly admired. The church was built for music and the building seems to sing; during concerts and occasional services of evensong.