St Hilda's Church: Heart of the Headland
Carrying the legacy of St Hilda into the future of Hartlepool
In the 7th century, an exceptional woman rose to prominence in Hartlepool, County Durham. Her name was Hild, and she is today known as St Hilda.
St Hilda embodied wisdom, a strong dedication to learning and a commitment to helping others. Appointed the second abbess of Hartlepool Abbey, Hilda founded a community by bringing together both religious and non-religious people from all walks of life.
St Hilda’s original monastery has long since disappeared, but a church bearing her name was built on its site in the late 12th century. Today, St Hilda’s church still sits proudly on the Hartlepool headland, working to preserve the values inspired by this dynamic female leader.
While the church is actively used for collective worship, the accumulated deterioration over the church’s long tenure, combined with its current design, means that St Hilda’s full potential as a foothold in the community cannot be fully realised.
Heart of the Headland is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to secure the future of the church by combining urgent investment and repair to the deteriorating fabric of the building with a programme of free, exciting, interactive, family-friendly, participatory heritage and creative events.
Our project will tie the memory of St Hilda to the future of her namesake church, creating a sustainable hub for social and civic life on the Hartlepool Headland and continue its legacy of bringing a community together.
