The Cathedral Church of Our Lady is a Catholic cathedral in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the Granger Town area. This church cannot be called ancient, it was built in the mid-19th century. But it is the tallest church in the city, and its 70 metre high spire has become as much a landmark of the city as St Nicholas Cathedral or the Millennium Bridge.
In 1838, a general meeting of Catholics living in Newcastle decided to build a church, large and beautiful, which "would be an honour to our faith, an ornament to the city and would seat twelve hundred people". There were not many Catholics living in Newcastle and the decision to build such a large church was a testament to their faith. A fundraising appeal was launched and by 1842 enough money had been raised to buy a plot of land and hire an architect. This turned out to be Augustus Pugin, famous for his work on the Houses of Parliament in London. His conversion to Catholicism deprived him of many commissions, but secured him commissions from the Catholic Church.
In 1842 Pugin came to Newcastle and soon presented his design. The resources of the church building committee were limited, but after much discussion the cost was agreed and the design largely accepted. The tower and spire had to be abandoned. The church was opened in 1844. In 1850, following the creation of the Diocese of Hexham, the church became a cathedral church and in 1860 the name was adopted in honour of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. With money bequeathed to the church, the tower and spire are completed in 1870.
During World War II, the church's stained glass windows were badly damaged by bombing.
The church is built in the neo-Gothic style characteristic of Pugin and is richly decorated with stained glass windows.
