St. Gabriel’s is a Church of England Parish Church which seeks to serve all those who live in the parish of Heaton, whether they are people of faith or not.
As such we feel called to be open to all, and actively seek ways to show care for the local community, through work with both young and old and everyone in-between!
The main Sunday service is Parish Eucharist at 9.45am often with a robed choir and junior church.
We hold Choral Evensong twice a month with other regular services including a Praise service, Healing Eucharist, Solomn Evensong and Compline.
We believe that God calls us to join with him in bringing in his kingdom, and social justice has been, and is, a key part of our sense of mission.
There are many groups that meet regularly including; Toddler Groups, Pop-in Coffee Mornings, Mother’s Union, After 8’s Discussion groups to name a few.
The Vestry is used by local art classes, local choirs as well as Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and in the summer the whole church is transformed for our popular 3 day Holiday club where we welcome 50 local children for fun and games!
At St Gabriel’s we have strong links with the local community including working with the local schools, running cominuty events like the Garden Party or Winter Wonderland, Supporting Belle Vue Nursing Home and The Newcastle Chaplins at the Freeman Hospital and Rvi.
One of the current congregation founded Martha and Mary’s on Chillingham Road, a cafe run by volunteers, which provides a warm welcome and hospitality as well as a place for people to meet and recently celebrated its 15th birthday with a pie and pea supper and grand Ceilidh!
We are members of the “Heaton Churches Together” group which incudes a wide range of churches across Heaton who worship together at key times of the year, and carry out joint projects including the popular Heaton Festival – a bi annual event that draws thousands of visitors to Heaton Park to enjoy food, games, music and entertainment and this year included a Heaton Peace Walk with our friends at the Heaton Mosque.
There is more information on all of these across the website!
St Gabriel’s for All
St Gabriel’s is a member of the One Body One Faith Organisation which lists places where LGBTQ people are welcome and have felt welcome to worship regularly.
As a church community we are campaigning and praying for the day when we can welcome same sex couples here for marriage.
If you would like further information on this please speak to The Rev’d Jonathan Lawson or visit the One Body One Faith website at http://www.onebodyonefaith.org.uk/
St Gabriel’s and the People’s Kitchen
The local charity the People’s Kitchen was set up by a Alison Kay who worshipped here and has been running for 30 years providing hot meals, access to services and support for Newcastle’s homeless.
Thanks to one woman’s principles and determination, The People’s Kitchen has been supporting the homeless and disadvantaged in the Newcastle area since 1985. Spurred on by an article about the death of a homeless man, Alison Kay (then in her 70s) decided to set up an organisation to support those in need.
Within a year, Alison had 40 helpers, and they inaugurated the first People’s Kitchen next to the railway arches by Dean Street, offering food, clothes, a warm fire and welcome to anyone who came in peace.
The work was made possible through the generous support of volunteers and sponsors recruited by Alison, and over 30 years later that tradition continues. For her work, Alison received an Honorary Degree from Newcastle University in 1997.
Alison Kay died in 2001, aged 91, but inspired by her example, The People’s Kitchen remains true to her principles; providing ‘friendship and food’ to anyone who needs support.
We continue to support the People’s Kitchen in many ways across the year.