History
The Foundation of Fatfield Church
The mid-Victorian years in the Anglican Church were a time of change. The church was becoming more socially aware, feeling that its responsibilities to the poor, oppressed and uneducated were more important than the upholding of its pomp and circumstance. The Oxford movement in the 1830's had caused deep rifts over the Church of England's position as a reformed catholic church, which led to wasteful and hurtful litigation.
In 1859 Charles Darwin published his 'Origin of Species' and in 1871 "The Descent of man", books whose conclusions shocked parts of the church to its very foundations.
It is in this time of panic and confusion, one of the few people who held the church together was the then Bishop of Durham, J.B. Lightfoot. He was a man of scholarship, whose intelligence "Had no fear of scientific study of the bible' (J R H Moorman "A History or the Church of England") and whose faith was strong enough to combat the doubters.
As part of their social concern the church began opening more schools and dedicating more churches in deprived areas. Theological Colleges were opened in various parts of England. In Durham, Bishop Lightfoot began training young men for the priesthood at Auckland Castle. These men were going out into parishes much better trained in awareness of people's need and with much higher personal standards of belief and faith than their predecessors.
The now populous village of Fatfield had from ancient times been part of the parish of Chester-le-Street. In the days when church going was decreed by law, people in the area would have to walk the two or three miles every Sunday. Christenings, marriages and funerals would have taken place at Chester-le-Street church. Perhaps this inconvenience now bothered the church authorities. They may also have wanted to counter the influence of the Methodists whose chapel had been here since before 1784. Whatever the reason, on October 29th 1875 the parish of Fatfield was formed from "the parish of Chester-le-Street and Birtley comprising most of Harraton and the hamlets of Chatershaugh, North Biddick, Nova Scotia, Picktree and Pelaw Grange"
The first vicar, The Rev. William Samuel Reeman, was appointed in 1876 . Was he one of the young men trained by Bishop Lightfoot? In the same year a school, paid for by Lord Durham, opened on the site where it remained until its closure, in 1998.
In 1859 Charles Darwin published his 'Origin of Species' and in 1871 "The Descent of man", books whose conclusions shocked parts of the church to its very foundations.
It is in this time of panic and confusion, one of the few people who held the church together was the then Bishop of Durham, J.B. Lightfoot. He was a man of scholarship, whose intelligence "Had no fear of scientific study of the bible' (J R H Moorman "A History or the Church of England") and whose faith was strong enough to combat the doubters.
As part of their social concern the church began opening more schools and dedicating more churches in deprived areas. Theological Colleges were opened in various parts of England. In Durham, Bishop Lightfoot began training young men for the priesthood at Auckland Castle. These men were going out into parishes much better trained in awareness of people's need and with much higher personal standards of belief and faith than their predecessors.
The now populous village of Fatfield had from ancient times been part of the parish of Chester-le-Street. In the days when church going was decreed by law, people in the area would have to walk the two or three miles every Sunday. Christenings, marriages and funerals would have taken place at Chester-le-Street church. Perhaps this inconvenience now bothered the church authorities. They may also have wanted to counter the influence of the Methodists whose chapel had been here since before 1784. Whatever the reason, on October 29th 1875 the parish of Fatfield was formed from "the parish of Chester-le-Street and Birtley comprising most of Harraton and the hamlets of Chatershaugh, North Biddick, Nova Scotia, Picktree and Pelaw Grange"
The first vicar, The Rev. William Samuel Reeman, was appointed in 1876 . Was he one of the young men trained by Bishop Lightfoot? In the same year a school, paid for by Lord Durham, opened on the site where it remained until its closure, in 1998.
The Church Building
The parish was established, the vicar appointed. Maybe the first services were held in the new school, but a church building was needed. On July 19th 1877 the Earl of Durham signed a document giving one acre of his land (4840 Square yards) to be used for the erection of a church building. The document refers to laws passed in the reigns of George III, George IV and Queen Victoria which amended existing laws and were concerned with the "Building and promoting the building of additional churches in populous parishes". The acre of land was "part of a close of land called shed field, Bounded on or forwards by the High Road leading from Vigo to Fatfield on all sides by other parts of the shed Field". It was conveyed to the Ecclesiastical Committee "for a site of an intended new church to be called St.Georges' Fatfield with surrounding yard and enclosure to be devoted when consecrated, to Ecclesiastical purposes for ever".
The church was built in the Early English Gothic style consisting of a chancel, nave, north transept, south porch and a slender, spiral belfry, together with a font which bore the arms of the Lambton, Lumley, Hedworth and D'Arcy families. It was to seat 300 people. The material used was red brick with stone dressings. It cost £5000 and the money was provided by Lord Durham. It was to be two years before the building itself was completed in 1879
The church was built in the Early English Gothic style consisting of a chancel, nave, north transept, south porch and a slender, spiral belfry, together with a font which bore the arms of the Lambton, Lumley, Hedworth and D'Arcy families. It was to seat 300 people. The material used was red brick with stone dressings. It cost £5000 and the money was provided by Lord Durham. It was to be two years before the building itself was completed in 1879
Fatfield School
The original Fatfield school (above) was paid for by the Earl of Duham (Lord Lambton) and opened on 14th August 1876 as a Church of England, fee paying school. In 1886 this was 1 shilling and 7 pennies per quarter, but not all children had to pay with provision having been made to give free education to 'pauper children'. In September 1891, the Free Education Act was implemented and from then on the only requirement was that each child provided 1 book per year. Voluntary contributions helped sustain the school.
The school opened with 2 classrooms and 146 pupils on roll from age 4 to 12. Over time additional classroms were added, the stove fires upgraded to radiators and boilers and, eventually, artificial lighting was installed. Interstingly, during the construction of the fourth classrom in 1907, a stone lined grave or cist was opened and a large part of a human skeleton was found. This was the third such discovery and almost certainly dated from the bronze age. From these discoveries, the slope in front of the school is considered to be an ancient British Barrow.
As a church school, Rev Reeman was a regular visitor and the smaller classrom was used on Sundays for services until St George's church building was completed in 1879. Next to the school were around 64 families housed on the school field (now Duxbury Park Estate) in 'The Square'. The first headmaster, Mr W. C. Robinson lived in the school house in the Square. There were also rows of terraces stretching along the riverside, the last of which were demolished in the 1970's.
The school opened with 2 classrooms and 146 pupils on roll from age 4 to 12. Over time additional classroms were added, the stove fires upgraded to radiators and boilers and, eventually, artificial lighting was installed. Interstingly, during the construction of the fourth classrom in 1907, a stone lined grave or cist was opened and a large part of a human skeleton was found. This was the third such discovery and almost certainly dated from the bronze age. From these discoveries, the slope in front of the school is considered to be an ancient British Barrow.
As a church school, Rev Reeman was a regular visitor and the smaller classrom was used on Sundays for services until St George's church building was completed in 1879. Next to the school were around 64 families housed on the school field (now Duxbury Park Estate) in 'The Square'. The first headmaster, Mr W. C. Robinson lived in the school house in the Square. There were also rows of terraces stretching along the riverside, the last of which were demolished in the 1970's.
Church Life 1879 - 1919
Mr. Reeman was in his early thirties when he became vicar of Fatfield and he died in that office at the age of ninety. He must have been a man of considerable gifts to have been entrusted with a new parish of about 2000 people. The vicarage, built in 1882 commanded a view of the high road from the village to Harraton pit, as did the church. Mr. Reeman and the miners who travelled that road, clean going up and dirty going down, must have built up a mutual respect. We have to remember that at this time the vicar was almost the representative of the crown in each parish and was to be treated with the respect the office deserved, but from the affection I heard in older relatives’ voices, when they spoke of Mr. Reeman, I always had the impression Mr. Reeman deserved the respect.
I remember a story, probably legendary, about one of his rapscallion sons creeping into the vicarage, late at night, after a visit to a local pub, to be met by his father,
"Drunk again son?" said Mr. Reeman.
You too father?" replied the son.
We don't know the means employed to build his flock because priests of those days were not aided by parochial church councils, no records of meetings have survived and there is no-one now who can give us eye-witness accounts of the happenings from 1879 to 1919. We do know that there would be a vicar's warden and a people's warden, sidesmen, a branch of the Mother' Union (after its inauguration in the Durham diocese in 1890 as we have the members certificate of Mrs Lily Robson dated November 30th 1905), a choir, a Sunday School and strong connections with the local school.
I remember a story, probably legendary, about one of his rapscallion sons creeping into the vicarage, late at night, after a visit to a local pub, to be met by his father,
"Drunk again son?" said Mr. Reeman.
You too father?" replied the son.
We don't know the means employed to build his flock because priests of those days were not aided by parochial church councils, no records of meetings have survived and there is no-one now who can give us eye-witness accounts of the happenings from 1879 to 1919. We do know that there would be a vicar's warden and a people's warden, sidesmen, a branch of the Mother' Union (after its inauguration in the Durham diocese in 1890 as we have the members certificate of Mrs Lily Robson dated November 30th 1905), a choir, a Sunday School and strong connections with the local school.
The Years between 1919-1937
The terrible suffering of men in the first world war led to much soul searching amongst priests and laity, as had the upheavals in the Victorian years. The outcome, when the war ended, was to open up the government of the church to all its members. The basis of this was to be an electoral roll in each parish, containing those who were, "baptised and declare that they are members of the Church of England and that they do not belong to any religious body which is not in communion with the Church of England"
This had to be considered by parliament. Alongside the electoral roll issue were proposals to establish parochial church councils, Deanery meetings, Diocesan conferences and a National Association of the church of England. All became law and the basis of the church organisation to-day.
The first recorded meetings of St. George's church start with the annual vestry meeting of April 4th 1918 in the presence of the vicar, his churchwardens and a small committee of men. It was purely formal in nature. The outcome of this committee's efforts was the installation of the east window and memorial slab in 1922.
This had to be considered by parliament. Alongside the electoral roll issue were proposals to establish parochial church councils, Deanery meetings, Diocesan conferences and a National Association of the church of England. All became law and the basis of the church organisation to-day.
The first recorded meetings of St. George's church start with the annual vestry meeting of April 4th 1918 in the presence of the vicar, his churchwardens and a small committee of men. It was purely formal in nature. The outcome of this committee's efforts was the installation of the east window and memorial slab in 1922.
The East Window and Memorial Slab
The east window in the 1879 building was plain glass. It was replaced, as like what occured in hundreds of other churches in Britain, the congregation wished to place as fitting a memorial as they could afford to the fallen of the First World War. The East Window project was initiated at the P.C.C. meeting on October 30th 1919 by the formation of a committee to raise money, not just for the window, but for a marble slab to register the names of the First World War dead from the parish.
At the meeting on December 11th 1919 designs for the window and slab were approved. They had been ordered from Messers Morris, Merton Abby, Surrey. The name Morris would attract the attention of any one looking into the history of stained glass. The details were catalogued in a book by A.C. Sewter.
" The stained Glass of William Morris and his Circle "
The catalogue entry for Fatfield reads –
1921 East Window 5 lights and tracery.
1. St. George - designed by John Henry Deane (designer after the death of Edward Burne Jones in 1898)
2, 3, 4, The Resurrection J.Henrybearle.
5. St. John by Edward Burne Jones.
Tracery:- Emblems of the Evangelists, scrolls, instruments of the passion and two kneeling angels. Inscribed 'I am the Resurrection and the life'
War memorial 1914 - 1918.
The painters who copied the design were Seely, Trinick, and Jennings.
The designs had been used variously since 1876 in a number of churches, often for war memorials. In artistic terms, therefore, our window is not unique, nor original, but it is of interest.
On March 11th 1920 it was proposed by Mr Jopling (the peoples' warden) that the inscriptions on the marble slab should show the names but not the ranks of the servicemen. He was seconded by Mr Robson but the motion was opposed by Mr Hall the vicar's warden. A vote was taken, five people supported, five opposed. The vicar gave the casting vote and came down on Mr Jopling's side.
On April 10th 1922 it is recorded that the window had arrived. There exists a copy of the form of service used at the unveiling of the war memorial, tablet and window, by Colonel Hugh M. Stobart and the Rev. Canon Archdale on Sunday September 17th. 1922 at 2:30pm. This service was reused in 2014 at a service of remembrance at the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI.
At the meeting on December 11th 1919 designs for the window and slab were approved. They had been ordered from Messers Morris, Merton Abby, Surrey. The name Morris would attract the attention of any one looking into the history of stained glass. The details were catalogued in a book by A.C. Sewter.
" The stained Glass of William Morris and his Circle "
The catalogue entry for Fatfield reads –
1921 East Window 5 lights and tracery.
1. St. George - designed by John Henry Deane (designer after the death of Edward Burne Jones in 1898)
2, 3, 4, The Resurrection J.Henrybearle.
5. St. John by Edward Burne Jones.
Tracery:- Emblems of the Evangelists, scrolls, instruments of the passion and two kneeling angels. Inscribed 'I am the Resurrection and the life'
War memorial 1914 - 1918.
The painters who copied the design were Seely, Trinick, and Jennings.
The designs had been used variously since 1876 in a number of churches, often for war memorials. In artistic terms, therefore, our window is not unique, nor original, but it is of interest.
On March 11th 1920 it was proposed by Mr Jopling (the peoples' warden) that the inscriptions on the marble slab should show the names but not the ranks of the servicemen. He was seconded by Mr Robson but the motion was opposed by Mr Hall the vicar's warden. A vote was taken, five people supported, five opposed. The vicar gave the casting vote and came down on Mr Jopling's side.
On April 10th 1922 it is recorded that the window had arrived. There exists a copy of the form of service used at the unveiling of the war memorial, tablet and window, by Colonel Hugh M. Stobart and the Rev. Canon Archdale on Sunday September 17th. 1922 at 2:30pm. This service was reused in 2014 at a service of remembrance at the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI.
The Years between 1938-1954
In the spring of 1938 we had the first PCC meeting under the chairmanship of the new vicar the Rev. CJ Parry- Evans. A man with strong aristocratic connections, he suffered from ill-health during the whole of his ministry. Having the support of a very able wife, however, the parish did not suffer in any respect because of this. The vicar taking the chair stressed the need for a church hall and an electric blower for the organ.
During WWII each serviceman in the parish was sent a monthly booklet and it is recorded that, 'In the event of an air raid during a service the choir boys would be evacuated to the boiler house. The congregation would choose whether to go or to stay.'
During WWII each serviceman in the parish was sent a monthly booklet and it is recorded that, 'In the event of an air raid during a service the choir boys would be evacuated to the boiler house. The congregation would choose whether to go or to stay.'
Earliest memories of the Parry-Evans all seem to be tied up with fund-raising for a new church hall. Parishioners ran beetle drives in their homes, the church held whist drives and sales of work in the welfare hall (now the community centre). In 1945 The Earl of Durham offered land for the church hall which was bought at a nominal cost of £20. In May 1947, the former R.A.F. building from Usworth aerodrome, was officially opened at a cost of £1550.
In 1954, The vicar asked the PCC if it was their intention to do anything about the church steeple. It was decided to ask the architect his fees before deciding and have the church surveyed at the same time.
In 1954, The vicar asked the PCC if it was their intention to do anything about the church steeple. It was decided to ask the architect his fees before deciding and have the church surveyed at the same time.
The Years between 1954 - 1962
The year 1954 saw the parish of Fatfield welcome Thomas Henry Paul Wigfield into the community.
Paul warmed to the people very quickly due to his great gift of communication. He was the Peoples' vicar, "Down to Earth" as people would say. He and his wife Cicely totally involved themselves in the village activities and they encouraged everyone to do likewise. He built up a strong relationship, not only with the immediate church, but with all people of the parish. His ability and strength in teaching was a vital part in people grasping true understanding of the Christian faith.
During his time in the Parish, the Church Hall played a very important part in the social life of the village, as did the Vicarage Garden, where wonderful fetes were held involving the whole of the community. Bonds of friendship and understanding of the Christian fellowship were nurtured through the organisations and activities.
Paul warmed to the people very quickly due to his great gift of communication. He was the Peoples' vicar, "Down to Earth" as people would say. He and his wife Cicely totally involved themselves in the village activities and they encouraged everyone to do likewise. He built up a strong relationship, not only with the immediate church, but with all people of the parish. His ability and strength in teaching was a vital part in people grasping true understanding of the Christian faith.
During his time in the Parish, the Church Hall played a very important part in the social life of the village, as did the Vicarage Garden, where wonderful fetes were held involving the whole of the community. Bonds of friendship and understanding of the Christian fellowship were nurtured through the organisations and activities.
...life of the church was declining. The loss of the hall was a big contribution to this.
In the 1953 Durham Diocesan records, the population of the parish was 3440; Church accommodation 300: No. on the Electoral Roll 255. There was also a little church at Picktree listed as The Mission Room, and recorded as being able to accommodate 50 people! Anyone remembering it will know that it was very tiny - a small room attached to a row of cottages, but lovingly cared for by those who worshipped there. By 1966 the population had dropped to 2582, or perhaps the earlier figure had been incorrect!
In 1961 Mr. Marsden gave a report on the fabric of the church - the woodwork on the steeple had deteriorated. In 1962, Rev. Wigfield resigned. During time in the parish he had developed such broadcasting skills that led to his eventual move to London and work at the Churches Television Centre. He had been doing occasional broadcasts' before coming to Fatfield - not all of them religious.
In 1961 Mr. Marsden gave a report on the fabric of the church - the woodwork on the steeple had deteriorated. In 1962, Rev. Wigfield resigned. During time in the parish he had developed such broadcasting skills that led to his eventual move to London and work at the Churches Television Centre. He had been doing occasional broadcasts' before coming to Fatfield - not all of them religious.
The Years between 1963 - 1974
Nigel Tindale was installed as vicar in September of 1963. During his time as vicar some dramatic changes occured within and around the church. Tree root damage led to the wall around the church being pushed out and needing to be rebuilt.
1965 saw the start of the church yard being re-designed with some of the Head Stones moved to allow for grass to be tended easily. Water was installed into the church building and a water tap placed in the graveyard. During the same year St. George's church had the interior walls painted for the first time. The work was done by Albert Hind and his partner Bobby Bain. During the decoration of the interior of the church, and due to scaffolding within the church, the tea room in the church hall was converted into a worshipping area so no worship was disrupted.
It was at this time that the familiar outline of Fatfield changed. The old names of Harraton, Biddick, Rickleton and Fatfield emerged in completely new areas.
1965 saw the start of the church yard being re-designed with some of the Head Stones moved to allow for grass to be tended easily. Water was installed into the church building and a water tap placed in the graveyard. During the same year St. George's church had the interior walls painted for the first time. The work was done by Albert Hind and his partner Bobby Bain. During the decoration of the interior of the church, and due to scaffolding within the church, the tea room in the church hall was converted into a worshipping area so no worship was disrupted.
It was at this time that the familiar outline of Fatfield changed. The old names of Harraton, Biddick, Rickleton and Fatfield emerged in completely new areas.
In 1969, the parish council took over maintenance of the churchyard by deed and it was closed by faculty. In 1971, the old churchyard was designated an open space and the majority of the headstones were removed by the council. Two designated areas were left to where representative headstones were moved. There were just 2 formal objections by parishioners to this work recorded in the archive. From this point, no more bodies could be buried in this space. However, additional land had now been set aside and consecrated as a burial ground to the East of the church.
On April 20th 1972, there was a fire in the church hall. It was believed to have been vandalism by young people who had had their stash of cigarettes removed from its hiding place under the steps. The hall had to be pulled down.
In 1974, the Vicar reported that the spiritual life of the church was declining. The loss of the hall was a big contribution to this. It was suggested by the development corporation that the church hall land be sold and building a new 'hall' onto the church. (In our future section, you will see that 50 years later these ideas are coming to fruition.) The remnants of the burned out hall were gradually being removed. The PCC began to consider a new hall or converting the church into a hall and creating a place of worship in an upstairs room.
Through these years the parish changed rapidly as new houses were built. The old vicarage was becoming increasingly difficult to heat and maintain.
On April 20th 1972, there was a fire in the church hall. It was believed to have been vandalism by young people who had had their stash of cigarettes removed from its hiding place under the steps. The hall had to be pulled down.
In 1974, the Vicar reported that the spiritual life of the church was declining. The loss of the hall was a big contribution to this. It was suggested by the development corporation that the church hall land be sold and building a new 'hall' onto the church. (In our future section, you will see that 50 years later these ideas are coming to fruition.) The remnants of the burned out hall were gradually being removed. The PCC began to consider a new hall or converting the church into a hall and creating a place of worship in an upstairs room.
Through these years the parish changed rapidly as new houses were built. The old vicarage was becoming increasingly difficult to heat and maintain.
The Years between 1974 - 1984
The Reverend Alan Grenville Richards arrived in spring of 1975. Alan was the youngest vicar the parish had ever had and was easily recognised by his gingery beard and his infectious laughter. An outdoor man, at times he and his wife Rosemary looked more like 'The Good Life'. They loved the old vicarage, in particular for its large grounds that had a healthy vegetable patch, while their two children, Brenden and Gwyneth found the vicarage ideal for hiding in. As time moved on, the house became too expensive to keep and they approached the PCC to suggest moving out and buying and extending the house in Larchwood.
By 1975, the church building was in desperate need of repair especially the Belfry. A project was set up to raise sixteen thousand pounds. A large sum of money at this time. As the Church Hall had been vandalised and set on fire, a contractor was finally brought in to remove the debris. At the same time Alan and a group volunteers carried out further work clearing up the site and the new Church yard. |
Alan introduced ideas for transforming the church building. He drew up rough drawings, but finance was a stumbling block. In 1978, a meeting was held to discuss the closure of the church because of danger from the spire, which had become dangerously unstable. After much fund raising, the spire was made safe and restored using modern materials to give it greater strength. In 1983, the old vicarage was finally sold and a new one bought. Plans were laid out to reorder the church inside.
Alan moved on to a church in Sheffield diocese in March of 1984. |
The Years between 1985 - 1993
Kerry Thorpe arrived just 3 weeks after Alan had left. Change was in the air and the people were keen to move on. The sunday school and Parish service were combined into one family worship at 10am, but with no church hall and lack of facilities a local congregation member's house had to be used for children's groups. At the same time new space was being sought to accomodate a rapidly growing youth church.
In 1985, a faculty and planning permission were applied for to enable the construction of a car park on the south west corner of the old churchyard. This finally came to fruition in 1990.
In 1986 the church hall site was sold and, along with generous pledges from church people, the money was raised to create two meeting rooms, toilets and a small kitchen in the roof at the west end of the church. These were completed and in use by the Autumn of 1987, however with no lift and steep stairs, access and facilities remained an issue. With massive growth in church membership, the internal layout was re-ordered allowing everyone to be involved. After numerous discussions, the pews were replaced with comfortable seating, the old font removed, the floors carpeted, the woodwork refurbished and repainted and a new platform was created on the south wall.
The church continued to grow and left with a choice between extending the church and planting a new church elsewhere, plans were made to start a new congregation at the Arts Centre building. Alan Farish was appointed as Curate in June 1989 to lead this new congregation. At this point there were also two youth workers and a church administrator to support work in the parish.
In 1993 the church was broken into and all the silverware was stolen. After 9 years as vicar, having overseen massive growth, a transformed building and a church plant, Rev Thorpe moved on to pastures new.
In 1985, a faculty and planning permission were applied for to enable the construction of a car park on the south west corner of the old churchyard. This finally came to fruition in 1990.
In 1986 the church hall site was sold and, along with generous pledges from church people, the money was raised to create two meeting rooms, toilets and a small kitchen in the roof at the west end of the church. These were completed and in use by the Autumn of 1987, however with no lift and steep stairs, access and facilities remained an issue. With massive growth in church membership, the internal layout was re-ordered allowing everyone to be involved. After numerous discussions, the pews were replaced with comfortable seating, the old font removed, the floors carpeted, the woodwork refurbished and repainted and a new platform was created on the south wall.
The church continued to grow and left with a choice between extending the church and planting a new church elsewhere, plans were made to start a new congregation at the Arts Centre building. Alan Farish was appointed as Curate in June 1989 to lead this new congregation. At this point there were also two youth workers and a church administrator to support work in the parish.
In 1993 the church was broken into and all the silverware was stolen. After 9 years as vicar, having overseen massive growth, a transformed building and a church plant, Rev Thorpe moved on to pastures new.
The Years between 1994 - 2012
Stoker Wilson arrived in 1994 and led the church for four and a half years. During this time the new church project continued unabated and given further impetus when a plot of land in Fatfield was released by Sunderland council and a fund raiser appointed. In 1996, the diocese agreed to buy this land for £25,000 and an individual donation of £20,000, a huge sum of money even by today's standards, was pledged towards the new church project.
Back in St George's further refurbishment continued, but with changes in worship, numbers fell back from the highs of previous years.
In 1998 Alan Farish and Stoker Wilson both moved on to different churches.
In July 1999, Mark and Fiona Maloney arrived as a ministry couple to lead both St George's and The Arts Centre congregations. They moved on in 2003 and it was not until 2005 that a new priest in charge was appointed, Rev. Brett Vallis. By this time, both congregations had declined significantly. Perhaps owing to a lack of stepping out in faith and buying the land, the new church project had long since been shelved and the decision was now taken to recombine the two congregations back at St George's. During his time he was joined by a pioneer minister, Jen Middleton.
Rev. Vallis moved on to become the chaplain to Durham High School for Girls in 2011 and Jen Middleton stayed on until the new vicar, Rev Nick Barr-Hamilton, was installed in September 2012.
Back in St George's further refurbishment continued, but with changes in worship, numbers fell back from the highs of previous years.
In 1998 Alan Farish and Stoker Wilson both moved on to different churches.
In July 1999, Mark and Fiona Maloney arrived as a ministry couple to lead both St George's and The Arts Centre congregations. They moved on in 2003 and it was not until 2005 that a new priest in charge was appointed, Rev. Brett Vallis. By this time, both congregations had declined significantly. Perhaps owing to a lack of stepping out in faith and buying the land, the new church project had long since been shelved and the decision was now taken to recombine the two congregations back at St George's. During his time he was joined by a pioneer minister, Jen Middleton.
Rev. Vallis moved on to become the chaplain to Durham High School for Girls in 2011 and Jen Middleton stayed on until the new vicar, Rev Nick Barr-Hamilton, was installed in September 2012.
The Church Organ
The organ was built in 1887 by the then reputable, but not yet internationally famous, firm of Harrison and Harrison. The firms detailed accounts show how it was installed in 1888 and cost two hundred and twenty pounds.
In its survey in September 1996, the Durham Diocesan Organ Adviser showed that the organ is unaltered except for the installation of an electric blower and that like all the Harrison instruments of its time it is well designed and solidly constructed. Mr Hurd goes on to say that the organ's overall integrity and character as a fine early Harrison instrument remains. Many such organs have been lost or altered out of all recognition and so its survival and conservation as an historically important instrument deserves careful attention. Mr Hurd adds that it is a credit to the builders' underlying design and its innate quality that it remains usable.
After 110 years of use, the organ needed a lot of work doing to its fabric and construction. Mr Hurd recommended a course of action and the PCC accepted this and tenders were asked for. They accepted the quote from Brian Brighton, a Durham organ builder. The work was completed by July 1998 and one member of the PCC gave the opinion that Mr Brighton and his wife put more care and repair into the task than they were paid for. This example of love and care should remind us all of the debt we owe to our forebears and it also reminds us to be aware of its future wellbeing.
In its survey in September 1996, the Durham Diocesan Organ Adviser showed that the organ is unaltered except for the installation of an electric blower and that like all the Harrison instruments of its time it is well designed and solidly constructed. Mr Hurd goes on to say that the organ's overall integrity and character as a fine early Harrison instrument remains. Many such organs have been lost or altered out of all recognition and so its survival and conservation as an historically important instrument deserves careful attention. Mr Hurd adds that it is a credit to the builders' underlying design and its innate quality that it remains usable.
After 110 years of use, the organ needed a lot of work doing to its fabric and construction. Mr Hurd recommended a course of action and the PCC accepted this and tenders were asked for. They accepted the quote from Brian Brighton, a Durham organ builder. The work was completed by July 1998 and one member of the PCC gave the opinion that Mr Brighton and his wife put more care and repair into the task than they were paid for. This example of love and care should remind us all of the debt we owe to our forebears and it also reminds us to be aware of its future wellbeing.
Recent Years
Owing to a rugby injury in his teens, Nick, the new vicar, is a wheelchair user. This had big implications for the internal layout of St George's. In theory, before his arrival there was to be a new ramp installed to the west entrance, the large platform on the South wall was to be removed and the reredos renovated. As part of the works, the old pulpit was to be removed. It had not been used in years and had become a junk storage area! One formal objection held up all of the work, while the chancellor made a decision. This led to Nick taking his first wedding in a church that had cardboard taped along the walls where building works had had to have been halted.
With technology supplanting paper, in December 2013 a projector and screen were installed by the canopy of the old pulpit and the church re-alligned back to the east (the church axis is actually South East/North West, but no one ever seems to have noticed that!). The annual paper bill for the church dropped by three quarters and the suppliers even rang up to ask why we had stopped buying so much paper!
With an increasingly elderly parish and congregation, and the only facilities being up steep stairs, it was proposed that a small servery area be installed at the back of the church. In Autumn of 2013, a provisional faculty was granted, but it was dependent on a repainting of all the woodwork in the vestibule. After discussions with the diocese, this condition was dropped. Several faithful members of the congregation bought and installed an oak servery. This has transformed a number of our ministies, enabling a regular lunch club, a drop in, and providing meals to families and young people, not to mention the simplified weekly hospitality at services and events. It quickly became obvious that it was not big enough for the use it was getting, but without new facilities there was nowhere to build a proper kitchen.
Further renovations of the church, the vestibule and the porch took place, new bibles bought and a bookcase built to match the servery. Working parties were established so everyone could get involved in helping to maintain the building and grounds and enable our mission to serve the community.
In 2019 the decision was taken that with the churchyard almost out of space and after several formal requests from local residents, people would be allowed to reserve grave spaces before the churchyard is finally full and ultimately closed.
With technology supplanting paper, in December 2013 a projector and screen were installed by the canopy of the old pulpit and the church re-alligned back to the east (the church axis is actually South East/North West, but no one ever seems to have noticed that!). The annual paper bill for the church dropped by three quarters and the suppliers even rang up to ask why we had stopped buying so much paper!
With an increasingly elderly parish and congregation, and the only facilities being up steep stairs, it was proposed that a small servery area be installed at the back of the church. In Autumn of 2013, a provisional faculty was granted, but it was dependent on a repainting of all the woodwork in the vestibule. After discussions with the diocese, this condition was dropped. Several faithful members of the congregation bought and installed an oak servery. This has transformed a number of our ministies, enabling a regular lunch club, a drop in, and providing meals to families and young people, not to mention the simplified weekly hospitality at services and events. It quickly became obvious that it was not big enough for the use it was getting, but without new facilities there was nowhere to build a proper kitchen.
Further renovations of the church, the vestibule and the porch took place, new bibles bought and a bookcase built to match the servery. Working parties were established so everyone could get involved in helping to maintain the building and grounds and enable our mission to serve the community.
In 2019 the decision was taken that with the churchyard almost out of space and after several formal requests from local residents, people would be allowed to reserve grave spaces before the churchyard is finally full and ultimately closed.
With so much going on and the gospel going out, new people began to join the church. In 2013 and 2014 the PCC had vision days as they sought to discern God's plan for growth and discipleship. There was a clear consensus that we wanted to do more to serve our community. In 2015 there was a full church vision day to which dozens of people came. From that day, the 1974 vision to build onto the church and replace the burnt out hall, was reignited.
In November 2015 an architect was appointed to sketch up a couple of ideas of how we could fulfil this renewed vision to serve more people. Things did not initially go to plan. The first architect did not seem to have read the brief and his sketches missed the mark by a long way. He promptly left the appointed practice to go and work elsewhere. Those sketches were shelved and the firm started again.
By the end of 2017, after many discussions, we thought a great solution had finally been reached only for the planning authority to declare that it was too large and we needed to rethink the whole idea. So after some difficult conversations with planners, the DAC and the architect, a new young architect came up with a concept that looked feasible. A new firm was appointed to take this concept forward and finally we now have a vision for the future that looks promising.
On 23rd March 2020, our church building was temporarily closed following the outbreak of covid-19 to help limit the spread of the disease and protect the health service from being overwhelmed. One service was livestreamed on YouTube from the church, but then the clergy were banned even from doing that, so Nick and his family lead services and groups from the vicarage using streaming technology. Fundraising for the new project began on SpaceHive crowdfunding platform to cover the costs of the planning application while the church could not be used.
We began to return to our building after the November 2020 lockdown and have remained open for worship since that point, albeit in very different ways. Online services continued, Christmas was celebrated outside, as was Good Friday 2021. Through the winter lockdown an intrepid group of volunteers ran a pop up lunch tent to provide meals for young people while schools were closed. As restrictions lifted, an outdoor community cafe began 3 mornings a week and in May, on top of the delivery lunches that had gone out for 9 months already, weekly lunches began to be served in church to older and isolated people in our community who wanted to meet with others.
The need for proper facilities had become ever more evident and finally, at the end of April 2021 planning permission for the community annexe was granted. The fundraising began in earnest. By the winter of 2022 we believed we had sufficient funds to build the annexe and we went out to tender. We knew that the inflation in the construction industry had been unprecedented due to the war in Ukraine and COVID related factors, but nothing could have prepared us for just how much. Prices had doubled in just 3 years. After some dramatic cost cutting, a plan to phase part of the project and a miracle of the Lord in additional funding, the contracts were signed in mid-2023 and construction began on September 17th 2023.
In March of 2024, sufficient funding was raised to ensure phase 2 could go ahead and we continue to raise funds to ensure its completion. Construction is ongoing. You can follow its progress on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/StGeorgesChurchFatfield
Our thanks go to the many people who lent photos and stories,
in particular Maurice Taylor for the old slides and Rita McGhee & Margaret Foster
who helped assemble 'A History of the Parish of Fatfield' 20 years ago
Webpage created in August 2019
Registered Charity Number: 1190509
in particular Maurice Taylor for the old slides and Rita McGhee & Margaret Foster
who helped assemble 'A History of the Parish of Fatfield' 20 years ago
Webpage created in August 2019
Registered Charity Number: 1190509
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