In 1910 Newcastle was a much different city from what it is now.
Hundreds of families, lived in the city centre in run down tenement flats. George Bowran a Christian businessman in Newcastle was greatly moved by the poverty that he witnessed and decided that something had to be done to help the people. a meeting was held inviting other Christian businessmen to share his vision.
The Mission had two main aims. First to bring the Word of God to the people and second to supply their needs i.e., Food, clothes and shoes often supplied by local retailers. Most of the food was cooked on the premises and distributed.
Throughout the years thousands of people came to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and all the weekly Christian meetings were very well attended.
In the late 1960’s it was decided that a huge demolition programme was to take place in the city centre, which was to make way for Eldon Shopping Centre, sadly the demolition included Prudhoe Street Mission.
In 1973 the Mission had moved out of the city centre to the West end of Newcastle and occupied the basement of Westgate Hall which was owned by the Methodist Church.
The old work ceased, and new work began and in 1974 Tom and Miriam Leighton became the new Pastors of the Mission. When the Methodist Church put Westgate Hall up for sale in the 1980’s it was purchased by the Mission. The work grew which now included daily breakfasts, lunches, and youth clubs. The Christian meetings continued to flourish.
In 2012 after almost 40 years of dedicated service Pastors Tom and Miriam decided it was time to leave and together with the trustees the decision was made to sell the building, in that same year the Mission became PRUDHOE STREET MISSION FOUNDATION a charity to give financial help and support to other organisations.