Places features

The twin Anglo-Saxon monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow is in with a chance of joining the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

It will be the UK's nomination for World Heritage Site status in 2010.

The twin churches

But, for the bid to be successful, it needs the support of local people. So UNESCO's World Heritage Committee can have proof of local interest, signatures are being collected in libraries in and around Sunderland.

They're being collected in a Book of Life, which started in Monkwearmouth Library, near St Peter's Church, and will end up in the City Library and Arts Centre in 2009.

The book is based on historical manuscripts which were used to record the names of supporters of particular monasteries. 

The prime minister signs up

Heavyweight backing

Some of these books are being circulated around the country. The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, signed one at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester.

One of the ambassadors of the bid, John Mowbray from Northumbrian Water, enlisted the PM's support.

David Miliband gives his support

He also secured the endorsement of the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, the South Shields MP and Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, and former Conservative Party leader William Hague.

The Leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, has also signed a Book of Life.

David Cameron is also on board

History worth celebrating

The churches of St Peter, Monkwearmouth and St Paul, Jarrow 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".

St Peter's church

Wearmouth-Jarrow's nomination for World Heritage Site status in 2009 means it could achieve this status in 2010, so joining the likes of the 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 in 1999.