Contemporary with these churches there existed at Hartlepool a monastic house said by Bede to have been founded by Heiu, the first Northumbrian nun, and subsequently extended by St. Hilda, before her transition to Whitby in 657.
Although continued after this date, its history during the period of the Danish invasion is lost. The present Church of St. Hilda is mentioned in the confirmatory charter to Guisborough Priory of Bishop Pudsey in 1195, and in those of several of his successors, and was most likely included in the original grant with the churches of Hart and Stranton, of which it was a dependent chapel. In 1308 Bishop Bek, as a reward for the continual devotion, charity, and hospitality of the Prior and convent of Guisborough, granted them the indulgence, that in the church of Hart and chapel of Hartlepool, service should, after that date, be perpetually performed by a canon of Guisborough.
Statutes for the government of the church were drawn up by the Corporation of Hartlepool in 1599, and appear in the Corporation records, whence the following extract:
"Ytt ys ordeyned, that whosoever of this town dothe shott att or within the churche or churche steple of thys town, with gun, crosbowe, or anie other shott for the kyllinge of any dove, pigeon, or anie other foule, shall paye, for every suche offence, to the use of the town. 12.d."
In 1600 the number of "pues or stalls" was thirty-three.
The first church, though much restored, is the one which still remains, and the finest of the parish churches in the North. Standing on high ground, the impressive landmark formed by its massive tower and crocketed pinnacles, over many miles of land and water, has been referred to with admiration by every historian of the county.
"The church of Hartlepool differs from most ancient churches in being throughout one design, carried out at one time.... It tells, as authentically as any written document could, of the rapid growth and prosperity which preceded its erection. In the enthusiasm to which success gives birth, the merchants of Hartlepool said: ‘We will build a church.’ From the first they contemplated a splendid design, and this they executed worthily."—Boyle.
The church stands to the north-west of the site of St. Hilda’s Foundation. Its tower is its most striking characteristic. At an early date the tower must have shown signs of weakness, and the enormous buttresses which increase its picturesqueness so much were added. These additions are generally ascribed to the year 1230, and the entrance arch, with a very beautiful but much decayed chevron moulding, cut through the south buttress of the west side, is of the same date. The tower is of three stages, and the south-west corner forms a turret, through which a staircase leads to the roof. The clerestory windows have formerly been of three lights each, now built into one, and are very fine. The original capitals remain, but all the shafts have gone.
The west, or main entrance, has been built up. The nave is supported by five clustered pillars on each side, with pointed arches. In the wall of the south aisle is a piscina. The greater part of the chancel is modern.
Several chantries were attached to the church before the dissolution of the monasteries, but the monumental remains are few.