News

Old chapel honoured with new status

(11 September 2007)

Durham University’s largest chapel, an art-deco building designed by leading Twentieth Century architects, has been given listed status.

The Anglican chapel of the Venerable Bede, which stands in the riverside grounds of St Hild and St Bede College, has been given Grade II listed status in honour of its architectural and historic importance. Dating back to the beginning of World War Two, the chapel has a vibrant history. It has been the marriage venue of many former Hild-Bede students, who choose to tie the knot on the same site where they spent their student days together. As well as celebrating joyous events, the chapel also commemorates those lost in the World Wars and the recent Iraqi conflict. The chapel was designed by Seeley & Paget who were leading art-deco and church architects during the mid-Twentieth Century and was originally constructed in the grounds of what was the College of the Venerable Bede in celebration of its centenary as a Church of England teacher training school. Hild-Bede chaplain, the Reverend Jonathan Lawson, said: “The chapel has played a central part in the spiritual life of Hild-Bede since 1939. “This is still the case now with a recent special service for Hild-Bede societies seeing over 50 students attend. Resurrecting a long-standing, annual tradition, Hild-Bede societies came together to the chapel, bringing an object symbolic of their society to receive a blessing. “Students brought everything from rowing blades, to basket balls, to moose mascots in representing over half a dozen societies.” Bill Bryson, Chancellor of the University, said: “It is tremendous news that one of Durham’s many beautiful buildings has been acknowledged in this way. “Durham is widely renowned for its magnificent buildings, rich in history and impressive in architecture. I have a great love for Durham and am so pleased that Hild-Bede chapel, a structure which exemplifies the beauty of the city’s buildings, has been given the recognition it deserves.” Grade II listing gives buildings added protection. It means that any intention to demolish, alter or extend the structure in such a way as to affect its character would require listed building consent from the local planning authority. James Purnell, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “The chapel is of special architectural and historic interest for its outstanding design and excellent detailing by one of the leading national architectural practices of the time. “This chapel fully meets the criteria for listing a Twentieth Century place of worship in a national context.”