What we do

Based in the former Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland’s first parish church, Seventeen Nineteen has hundreds of stories to tell - reaching all the way back to the birth of Sunderland itself.

Seventeen Nineteen, formerly Holy Trinity - Sunderland's first parish church - has been renovated and restored, in collaboration with the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to preserve the shared heritage of our local community, and play a part in Sunderland’s current cultural network.

Seventeen Nineteen operates as a heritage tourism destination, bringing the diaspora of The East End back to memories they may have of weddings, christenings, and church services past. It is also a place for people to come and appreciate our award winning architecture, historic features and hidden stories. Our aim is to function as a hub for local creative practitioners, supporting them with gallery space, a venue for delivering workshops and performances, or as a market fayre for crafty traders.

Seventeen Nineteen became a popular venue for live music and theatre and was renown in the industry for bringing a variety of acts from across the world to Sunderland including Kiki Dee, Judie Tzuke, Eleanor McEvoy and Whispering Bob Harris.

Check out our wonderful community theatre project, 'A Spyglass Through Time’.

Through a diverse programme of events and a deep connection to Sunderland’s past, Seventeen Nineteen has something to offer for everyone. A beautiful space where ideas flourish, stories inspire and history unravels, this is a space for making new friends and trying new things. With a range of uses, we give our visitors the opportunity to roam, learn and explore. We welcome young people, creatives, students, history enthusiasts, musicians and anyone in between in need of a little space to make their own.