1856 saw the death of the Rev Richard Clayton, Master of St Thomas' Church in Haymarket and a local Evangelical luminary.

At the time, much of the land around the site was open fields; the building was designed by the architect John Dobson and consecrated in 1861.

Over the vestry door is an inscription: "This church, consecrated to the Glory of God, 14th January, 1861, was erected to the memory of the Rev.

Richard Clayton, M.A., who was for 30 years Master of the Hospital of St. Mary Magdalene, and the faithful minister of St. Thomas's Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

[citation needed] Liturgically the church is conservative, adopting the north side position at services of Holy Communion.

Both organisations take a strong stance against homosexual practice, in more recent times in relation to the legislation on civil partnerships, which has led to the church's services being picketed on a number of occasions by gay rights activists.

[9] The church houses a pipe organ by the notable builder James Jepson Binns of Leeds which dates from 1913, although it has fallen into severe disrepair and is no longer played.