One monastery, two places The twin Anglo-Saxon monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow is in with a real chance of joining the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, after the announcement that it will be the UK’s nomination for the award in 2009… The churches of St Paul, Jarrow and St Peter, Monkwearmouth, would form the centre of the proposed World Heritage site. Both churches were founded in the 7th Century and some of the original fabric of each building still survives. The community of Wearmouth-Jarrow was the creation of Benedict Biscop, a Northumbrian nobleman. St Peter’s was the first part of the monastery to be established in around 674 and St Paul’s followed around seven years later. Wearmouth-Jarrow was home to the greatly respected historian and scholar Bede, whose writings are still studied today. He described the community as “one monastery in two places”. A lengthy process
 | | The twin churches |
The announcement (in October 2006) of Wearmouth-Jarrow as the UK nomination for World Heritage Site status in 2009 means it could achieve this status in 2010. In so doing it would join the likes of the world-famous Taj Mahal and the Acropolis in Athens. That would mark the end of a lengthy process - Wearmouth-Jarrow was originally included on the UK’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites back in 1999. Since 2002 the Wearmouth-Jarrow partnership has been working hard to push the bid. The partnership is led by the Bishop of Jarrow and includes historians, academics and local parishioners. Now St Peter’s and St Paul’s are one more step along the road to achieving international recognition - so keep your fingers crossed for 2009! | 
