Bensham
Whitehall Road Methodist Church, Gateshead
Last Updated:
24 Jun 2025
Bensham
This is a
Church, Place of Worship
54.952510, -1.605783
Founded in
Current status is
Extant
Designer (if known):
John Whittaker Firth
Still in use
This is the lovely and quite grand Whitehall Road Methodist Church just off Coatsworth Road.
It was built in 1896, right at the same time Bensham suburbia bloomed out southwards. As a result of new plots being made available on the town fringes, the New Connexion Methodists captured the opportunity to build this beautiful gothic arts and craftsy church. It was though in part due to a dwindling attendance at Melbourne Street in the town centre. This was the Bethesda church, built in 1835 and sadly demolished while it was a printers works in the 60s for the dual carriageway. This one also seated 1200, so it was definitely a downsize…
This one was to fit 550 and cost just over £2500. The architect was not a local one - Mr John Whittaker Firth of Oldham. This is his only built in the north east, with much of his other churches being at Greater Manchester as well as the Isle of Man, Cornwall, Barnsley, Sheffield and Stoke. I presume he was well known on the circuits.
The New Connexion in this form didn’t last long. Various other denominations amalgamed to form the United Methodist Church, and the Wesleyan and Primitives merged too making this one of the primary Methodist places of worship in the town.
Amazingly, the original Bethesda organ from the 1830s was reinstalled here and is still in operation (as per the historic record).
Listing Description (if available)
We're taking things a step back on this entry, starting with the 1947 map then the 1890s town plan as Bensham saw a huge transition just as this church was built. Our first plan, surveyed just before the war, features the rolling terraces we expect of Bensham with the Methodist Church in the centre. The school has been entirely redeveloped with the Unitarian Church and Drill Hall entirely demolished. The park in front of Avondale Terrace was previously private gardens.
The 1890s plan is perfect in understand the great revolution of Bensham, and why these extravagant churches were placed here at the turn of the century. Only part of it was built, and I'm sure it was seen as desirable given its placement on the fringes of a busy town. Denominations were keen to supplant their spirituality here.
In the mid 19th century, it was certainly the Gateshead hinterlands. It was the cutoff between the new terraces of Coatsworth Road, the Durham Road and the country houses of the Team Valley. Someone born in, say, the 1820s would be staggered at the change by the time they hit their 80s.
The church was located on the north path from Rodsley House.
The Methodist Church in May 2025
The church from the air in 1948. Source: © Historic England. Aerofilms Collection EAW014544 flown 15 April 1948
