The fourth episode of the fourth series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this programme John visitors some of the Northeast’s unknown churches and chapels that are overlooked by visitors but containing some of the most beautiful and decorative architectural features. An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural styles ending on presenter...

The fourth episode of the fourth series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this programme John visitors some of the Northeast’s unknown churches and chapels that are overlooked by visitors but containing some of the most beautiful and decorative architectural features. An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural styles ending on presenter John Grundy holding the programmes title card. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Over a montage of both the exterior and interior of the Christon Bank Primitive Methodist Chapel near Alnwick in Northumberland, presenter John Grundy explains that this programme is about the churches and chapels that don’t feature in the guidebooks or tourist brochures but are just as interesting. As a set of partition doors open John stands on its mobile pulpit as it is wheeled into the main chapel. Coming to a stop he describes this unique moving pulpit as an interesting feature before going into detail on the chapel’s history and construction. Believing it gives the congregation the option to get rid of a boring preacher, the pulpit is pushed back behind the partition and the doors closed with John still standing on it. Just a mile from Christon Bank is the village of Low Newton-by-the-Sea and the parish church of St Mary’s described by John as being the sweetest spot. Made from corrugated iron in the simplest style John believes while it may have originally been built as a temporary structure, it now looks settled and solid. Heading into the church itself John points out the unique reversable benches which allows the building to be adaptable as both a church and meeting room. Coming back outside and resting on the Victorian gate into the churchyard John explains that both this and the chapel at Christon Bank form part of the parish of Embleton. Views follow of both the village of Embleton a few miles south and its parish church of the Holy Trinity originally built in the Medieval period when the local population was expected to go to church in this their parish church. However, both the chapel at Christon Bank and the church at Low Newton-by-the-Sea owe their existence to two forces that changed the ancient pattern of church going. Over exterior views of the former Reformed Church at Embleton John talks about the development of other Christian faiths such as the Quakers, Baptists and Methodist who didn’t want to worship in Church of England churches. The second factor was the explosion in population during the Victorian period. Over a montage of various churches and chapels built in towns, suburbs and villages during this period John explains that these places of worship are often overlooked, but no two are the same with much variety and imagination making them one of the glories of this country. Standing outside St Christopher’s parish church at Gunnerton in the North Tyne Valley, John pulls from his pocket an old guidebook for the region he wrote and explains that while his book does make mention of St Christopher’s, it isn’t mentioned in any other guidebook. Over a montage of both the exterior and interior of the church John points out its many odd and original features before telling a story about its architect John C. Hawes who became a Roman Catholic priest emigrating to Australia where he not only became a Monsignor but continues to design churches. Following a series of still images featuring some of the churches designed by John Hawes in Australia, John explains that because the Northeast is rich in old buildings new churches like St Christopher’s are underestimated and rarely visited. Walking though Hexham Park with Hexham Abbey in the background John explains that as well as the abbey he can see five other more recent and unknown churches nearby that adds to the general townscape. Providing details of each he points out on nearby Beaumont Street Trinity Methodist Church and just a few doors down the former Primitive Methodist Chapel now Hexham Community Church. Around the corner on Hencotes he talks about St Aidan’s United Reform Church and ends on Battle Hill and St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church built in 1830 making it one of the earliest Roman Catholic churches in the area. Title: Grundy’s Wonders End of Part One Part Two Over a montage of the interior of St Mary’s John begins to explain why 1830 is considered an old date for a Roman Catholic church. Back outside in the churchyard he talks about the many laws that made life for practicing Catholics in England very difficult for more than 250 years. As he walks along the snow-covered driveway leading to Ushaw College in County Durham he provides details of how life for Catholics became easer from the late 18th century onwards. As he wonders around the college John provides details on its development as a seminary opening in 1804 and over the next century producing a superb collection of buildings. A montage of said features follows. Walking across the colleges snow-covered sports field John provides an update with regards his limp which has featured in the series so far. Having had his hip replaced at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle he is now fit again to play some of the games the students at Ushaw use to play. Coming to stand beside a court used to play a version of handball, John provides details on some of the mysterious games they played such as Battledore, a form of primitive badminton. Taking a small ball from his pocket John attempts to hit it with his hand to start a game, he fails and eventually gives up. Walking along an ambulacra, a broad cloister corridor inside Ushaw College, John arrives at the main chapel of St Cuthbert designed by one of the most important of Victorian architects Augustus Pugin. Rebuilt in 1882 by Dunn and Hansom John explains that something doesn’t have to be old in order to ‘blow your socks off’. He heads inside and looks around the decorative interior. Standing outside St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church at Great Swinburne in the Tyne Valley John explains that while he does love the richness of places like Ushaw College, he also loves the simplicity of chapels like St Mary’s. He tells a family story about why he loves these nice little home-made chapels after which a montage of its exterior as well as other chapels around the Northeast. Another montage this time of chapels that have become derelict or been changed into a garage or carpet showroom with windows and doorways blocked up. John can’t stand this kind of abuse and indignity and gives this weeks ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History’ to crush all those conversions that ignore the simple beauty of chapels. An animation of a giant boot coming down to crush a garage that was once a chapel. Coming along a country road John explains that while many of the chapels featured in the programme have been simple and been built to a budget by ordinary people who just wanted to worship in their own way, other were done on principle. Arriving at Coanwood Friends Meeting House near Haltwhistle in Northumberland John gives a simple history of the Society of Friends or Quakers who believe God can communicate with you anywhere and had meeting houses rather than churches. Before heading inside John explains that while this meeting house is no longer in use, it is being looked after by the Historic Chapel Trust. Looking over its interior he explains that there isn’t a pulpit or decoration because Quakers believe in total equality. Sitting on one of the plain pews John explains how it was not uncommon for people to sit in silence for hours until such time as someone had something spiritual to say. Taking a seat on a raised platform at the rear of the room John explains these were for the elders of the community. He lifts two of the screens dividing the space and explains how as a meeting house rather than a chapel the space was used for different purposes such as a schoolroom. Explaining why he sees this meeting house as being a ‘wonderful building’ he justifies why it is absolutely worthy of being a ‘Grundy’s Wonder’. An animation of a fanfare of trumpets over the following title. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Over the closing credits a montage of some of the chapels visited in the programme. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Camera and Location Director Simon Elphinstone Sound Paul Graham, Andrew Bennett Lighting Gordon Porteous, John Mason Title: Australian pictures courtesy of Diocese of Geraldton John J. Taylor Credit: Production Manager Christine Stewart-Tilling Production Assistants Margaret McKie Graphics Dave Richardson Title Music and Dubbing John Cook Editor Mark Duncan Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Series Producer Steve Robins Title: © Tyne Tees Television 2003 End title: A Tyne Tees Television production. Granada