Original: 19th century Local government was divided between the three churches ( Holy Trinity Church , Sunderland , St. Michael 's , Bishopwearmouth , and St. Peter 's , Monkwearmouth ) and when cholera broke out in 1831 , the '' select vestrymen '' , as the church councilmen were called , showed themselves unable to understand and cope with the epidemic .
Simplified: 19th century Cholera Local government was divided between the three churches ( Holy Trinity , Sunderland , St. Michael 's , Bishopwearmouth , and St. Peter 's Church , Monkwearmouth ) .