St Joseph's

Introduction

St Joseph's was the first Catholic parish in Gateshead, with about 3,000 Catholics in the town at the time.

History

The foundation stone was laid on 25 May 1858 by Bishop Hogarth, with Father Edward Consitt as parish priest, architect Archibald Dunn, and contractor Mr. Hogg. The church was opened and blessed on 5 July 1859 by Bishop Hogarth. In 1864 Saint Joseph's School was opened and Father Thomas Matthews, the fourth parish priest, built the present presbytery. In 1959 the church celebrated its centenary.

The church was built in 1859, after about one hundred years without a Catholic church in Gateshead. The parish started in 1851 when Father Betham took up residence at 51 Saint Catherine Terrace, with the temporary chapel in the top storey of a warehouse in Hillgate. After the fire of 1854, the Assembly Rooms of the Queen's Head Hotel on Bottle Bank were used as a chapel until Saint Joseph's Church was opened. The baptistry, now the entrance, and the pulpit on the epistle side are shown in pictures from the centenary booklet of 1959.

Parish life

The parish prays the Rosary for Vocations to the Priesthood every Tuesday after Mass. The parish offers free refreshments and social tea, coffee, soft drinks and biscuits after Mass in the parish hall.

Visiting

The church offers the Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form. The church has a piety stall. The church is located close to Gateshead Metro and bus station and has good transport links.