The church of the Sacred heart is a modest, unpretentious building almost out of view on Amble High Street. The amazing fact about this is that it is built over one of the oldest historic sites in Amble.
In 1066 the manor lands of Amble were given to the Duke of Northumberland in recognition of his support in the great battle of Hastings. He, in turn, donated some of the land to the Tynemouth Priory. The monks built a Manor House overlooking the Coquet River which enabled them to levy tolls on in-coming boats which usually anchored just below this point.
The same magnificent view is still visited by many visitors and residents, today. All that remains after the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, is a remnant of an arched window and lights. This can be seen in the lovely little Calvary garden beside the church.
1840 saw the beginning of the Harbour works which brought an influx of Irish labourers and consequently a revival of the Catholic community in Amble. For several years priests from neighbouring parishes would come to offer Mass in Amble, but the harbour works came to an end and Mass was a monthly affair at best.
However, mining once more brought vitality to the church and many influential people of good will brought about the building of a school chapel which was officially blessed and opened by Bishop Chadwick on the feast of the Sacred Heart, 22nd June 1879. This occupied the site which is now the car park for the present church. Sixty children attended this school and it became officially established as a parish with Fr. Edward Robert as first Parish priest.
In 1913 a church was built alongside the school and dedicated to Sacred Heart and St. Cuthbert. This served Amble, Warkworth, Red Row and Broomhill. A sanctuary was added to this church in 1952, and in 1967 the old school chapel was pulled down. By 1977 the church was so dilapidated it called for demolition. It was after all, a prefabricated job not meant for long life.
Fr. Brian Malia, then Parish Priest, pointed the need for a new church and suggested that there were sufficient skilled hands in the congregation to build this at very low cost as there were no funds available.
The response was enthusiastic. The new church was built by volunteers (some non-catholic help), around the old building, putting a yard distance between old and new walls to facilitate construction and destruction.
In June 1987 a stone altar was added, the church re-furbished, and Bishop Lindsay celebrated its centenary.
The church underwent a further redecoration and re-furbishment in 2007, resulting in a warm and welcoming house of God. There is an atmosphere of quiet devotion here - something special about this place which I like to think comes from its ancient pious foundations and its modem creation at the hands of devoted labourers and prayerful givers.
