1963
 |
MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
|
PARISH OF ST PAUL GATESHEAD |
|
FOUNDED 1963 |
|
DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
| PARISH CHURCH | STATION CHURCHES | HISTORIC CHURCHES |
|
|
PARISH CHURCH OF ST PAUL |
 |  | |
| PARISH | CHURCH |
 |
 | PARISH |
| GATESHEAD IS ONE OF THE NEW SUBURBS THAT GREW AROUND THE FRINGES OF NEWCASTLE IN THE POST-WAR PERIOD. AT THE FOOT OF THE CENTRAL RIDGE BETWEEN CHARLESTOWN AND LAKE MACQUARIE, IT IS ESSENTIALLY A RESIDENTIAL AREA FOR YOUNG FAMILIES. THE PARISH WAS FORMED IN 1963 DURING THE GREAT EXPANSION OF THE PARISH SYSTEM AT THAT TIME. INCORPORATING THE BEACHSIDE SETTLEMENT OF REDHEAD, IT COVERED THE AREA BETWEEN LAKE MACQUARIE AND THE OLDER SUBURBS ALONG THE RIDGE. TODAY IT IS LINKED WITH THE PARISH OF CHARLESTOWN. NEXT |
| CHURCH | |
| THE MODERN CHURCH BUILDING DATES FROM THE 60's WHEN GATESHEAD BECAME A PARISH. IT IS UNUSUAL IN BEING COMPLETELY SQUARE AND VERY BLOCKY. BUILT ON A SLOPE THERE ARE SEVERAL HALLS AND ROOMS UNDERNEATH THE CHURCH. THE DOMINATING FEATURE OF THE CHURCH HOWEVER IS ITS MASSIVE ROOF CROSS FORCEFULLY PROCLAIMING ITS MISSION. | |
| IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH STANDS AN ATTRACTIVE STATUE OF OUR LADY AND AROUND IT ARE SEVERAL TREES AND BUSHES TO SOFTEN THE SQUARE LINES OF THE BUILDING. TOP STATION CHURCHES |  |
 | |
|
| STATION CHURCHES |
| REDHEAD |
|
| CHURCH OF ST JOHN VIANNEY, REDHEAD | |
 | STATION |
| THE SMALL BEACHSIDE COMMUNITY OF REDHEAD IS LOCATED ON A HEADLAND JUST TO THE NORTH OF BELMONT. IT IS ISLOLATED FROM THE REST OF NEWCASTLE'S URBAN SPRAWL BY A BELT OF BUSHLAND AND IS POPULAR FOR HOLIDAY HOMES. REDHEAD HAS BEEN A STATION OF GATESHEAD SINCE THAT PARISH WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE 60's. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE PARISH CHURCH THE CHURCH IS TODAY ONLY USED FOR OCCASIONAL SERVICES. NEXT | |
| CHURCH |  |
| THE SIMPLE LITTLE EARLY 60's STYLE STATION CHURCH OF ST JOHN VIANNEY CONSISTS OF A NAVE WITH A LARGE ATTACHED FRONT PORCH. THE SHAPE IS TRADITIONAL THOUGH THE MATERIALS AND FEATURES ARE MODERN. SQUARE AMBER WINDOWS PROVIDE THE LIGHTING AND DECORATION IS LIMIYED TO GABLE PANELLING AND A PLAIN WHITE GABLE CROSS. LOCATED IN A QUIET SIDE STREET AND SURROUNDED BY TREES THE CHURCH HAS A LOVELY SEMI-RURAL ATMOSPHERE TO IT. NEXT |
 | THE SLOPING NATURE OF THE SITE DICTATES THE RAISING OF THE SANCTUARY AREA CREATING SPACE FOR A STORAGE ROOM BENEATH THE EAST END. A CROSS IN CONTRASTING DARK BRICK MARKS THE EAST END OF THE CHURCH. FROM THIS END THE ESSETIALLY DOMESTIC NATURE OF THE ARCHITECTURE IS EVIDENT. THIS STYLE IS IN TOTAL CONTRAST TO THE EARLIER TENDANCY TO RESERVE A SPECIFIC STYLE FOR ECCLESIASTICAL BUILDINGS. THE SITE HAS BEEN LEFT UNLANDSCAPED WITH THE TREES GROWING RANDOMLY AROUND THE CHURCH HELPING TO MAINTAIN THE SENSE OF BUSHLAND MUCH DESIRED IN SNALL BEACHSIDE COMMUNITIES SUCH AS THIS. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES |
|
| HISTORIC CHURCHES | |
|
