Once again St Columba’s will be participating in the national annual Heritage Open Days event by opening the church to the public on Saturday 14 September from 10.00 to 16.00.

This year is especially important as Heritage Open Days celebrates its 25th anniversary.

St Columba’s is particularly pleased to be able to welcome people to this grade II listed building, designed by renowned local architect John Dobson.

Recently we also welcome Mr Ian Thomson Cartwright who is one of the current owners of the famous Robert Thompson’s Craftsmen Ltd – known as ‘Mouseman’ – based at Kilburn in North Yorkshire.

Ian was on a visit to North Shields at the invitation of North Tyneside Council to survey the condition of the Wooden Dolly in Northumberland Square, which was carved by the company in the late 1950s.

He also took the opportunity to come to St Columba’s to see our Mouseman furniture, and was immediately able to identify the font and lectern as the work of his uncle!