Starting in 1990, Father Jeremiah Anba Bishoy travelled each month from Manchester to Newcastle to serve the religious needs of about ten families from Egypt and Sudan living in the North East. Initially, worship was conducted in a private house in Whitley Bay but, in 1992, a church in Backworth was rented and the first mass was held.
In August 1993, the redundant Church of England Church of St Augustine, on Brighton Grove in Fenham, was bought and the Coptic Orthodox religious community established itself there. The building was consecrated 12 September 1993 by Pope Shenouda III. On the 11 July 1995, Pope Shenouda established a new diocese, "The Diocese of Ireland, Scotland and Northeast England and its affiliates". On the same day Axios Anba Bishoy was created a bishop with the title of His Grace Anba Antony and was enthroned at Newcastle on 28 July 1995.
The building itself was originally consecrated 16 Jun 1892 as St Augustine of Hippo Church of England with an additional lady chapel added in 1907. The church became redundant in 1993 after when it was taken over by the Coptic Orthodox Church. Many of the original fittings and features are still in place.
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