Church gets to art of matter.

LOCAL history will be explored in Newcastle's west end this week.

St James' Church, in Benwell, is hosting a week of arts, crafts and history as part of a plan to help bring the church into the heart of the community.

The church is carrying out a major study to investigate the potential for use of the church and grounds within the local area, with a vision of creating a centre for culture and heritage for the west end.

This Friday, the Woolly West will be on display, a model of the west of the city made totally out of wool by more than 50 members of the Knit and Natter group.

The models, first unveiled in July last year, include many images of Benwell past, including buildings which have since been torn down by the bulldozers.

Friday's coffee morning, which runs from 10.30am until 12 noon will also include slide shows of the west end in the past, exploring the history and heritage of this part of the city. And this afternoon, a free arts and crafts event will showcase activities including card making, silk painting, and flower arranging. There will also be tea and cakes.

St James' is filled with the history of the west end. It was built when Benwell was green fields and large estates and changed over the years as the area became industrialised.

Many of the most powerful and significant figures in Tyneside's history are buried in the church.