St Hilda's Church

read moreThe church (a Grade 1 listed building) stands in a commanding position by the sea. As well as being a vibrant and living church, an impressive architectural structure, and a place of great importance in the development of the Christian faith in the region and Christian heritage in general in the north east, St Hilda's has a Visitor Centre, charting the history of the Church and the Headland with modern displays (some interactive) and welcomers on hand to guide you round and tell you more. St Hilda's is the parish church of the Headland, a unique part of Hartlepool which is physically quite separate from the rest of the town.

read moreIf you are unable to get to a funeral because of current restrictions Rev Verity has an order of service you can say at home and she will email it to you if you get in touch.

read moreThe importance of Hild (Latin form is Hilda) to the Christian Church both in England and further afield is recognised far and wide. Less well known is the fact that she was the second Abbess of Hartlepool, before going on to establish Whitby Abbey. In recognition of this, two pilgrimage routes have been established in 2020 - Hartlepool to Durham, and Hartlepool to Whitby. The Whitby route can be followed on a smartphone or tablet, by downloading the free app from your app store (Google or Apple) - The Way of St Hild.

read moreIn keeping with our monastic origins, and as a member of the Open Churches Trust, St Hilda's welcomes visitors both to services and on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 4 pm and also on Wednesdays from 11.30 - 1.00. As well as splendid architecture and a warm welcome, the church offers a Visitor Centre with modern display panels (some interactive) which trace the history and the church and the Headland through the ages. Groups are welcome to contact us to arrange for a visit at any convenient time; guided tours and more substantial refreshments are available on request.

read moreOur tour starts at the Norman doorway, now enclosed by the 1932 outer porch. It is pure Norman workmanship, with chevron moulding, and must date from before the rest of the church, which belongs to the Transitional period and was built about 1185 - 1215. Behind the High Altar is the Brus Chapel, containing (perhaps) the tomb of Robert Brus IV. The extreme east end of the church was restored on the original foundations in the 1930s, under the supervision of the well-known architect, Caroe. It had fallen into disrepair in the 17th century and was abandoned.