Welcome to St. Hilda's, Hartlepool

Our 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.

The oak inner porch, a memorial to R. F. Oakes, a
native of Hartlepool, Freeman of the Borough and
sometime President of the Rugby Football Union, was
given in 1955 by Yorkshire R.U. and Hartlepool
Rovers R.F.C.

This watercolour by J.A. Illingworth
(1998) gives a good idea of the splendid
sight which awaits the visitor.

The Rood Screen was erected by the
widow of Francis Morris, Churchwarden,
who died in 1893. It had to be raised in
1932 when the chancel was restored to its
original size.

Behind the High Altar is the Brus
Chapel, containing (perhaps) the tomb of
Robert Brus IV.

The altar rails were made from oak
removed from the tower during
restoration and the wood is likely to be
over 1000 years old.