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The Parish Church of St Godric was established, in the 1860's to serve the population of the northern part of Durham City; however by the 1960's many parishioners lived outside the city, so a additional church,St Bede's, was built. The two churches remain one parish, with services distributed between them, parishioners and visitors are made welcome at either place of worship. |
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| Many chapels and churches were built in and around the city between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries, but were lost at the time of the Reformation. After the Reformation, until the nineteenth century, spiritual care for catholics in the city was in the hands of the Jesuits. Eventually the catholic parish church of St Cuthbert's was established in the Old Elvert district of the city. |
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| Many chapels and churches were built in and around the city between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries, but were lost at the time of the Reformation. After the Reformation, until the nineteenth century, spiritual care for catholics in the city was in the hands of the Jesuits. Eventually the catholic parish church of St Cuthbert's was established in the Old Elvert district of the city. |
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| The Papal restoration of the Catholic Hierarchy within England and Wales, in 1850 had caused a lot of publicity, most of it unfavorable to the Catholic Church, and money was in short supply when in 1858 Provost Platt , to meet the needs of the growing Catholic community of Durham, purchased the site to build a new church for the sum of £1800. He also purchased the site next to it, on which stood a former coaching inn. The main dinning room of the inn was converted into a temporary chapel while St Godric's was built. |
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| Original plans were drawn up by Edward Pugin, to include a tower with a spire, but the tower was not erected until forty years later and was finished without it's spire. The foundation stone for the new church was laid on Whit Monday 1863 by Bishop William Hogard, who also officiated at the opening ceremony; held on 15th November 1864 |
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| The next twenty years were dominated by the debt on the church . In May 1894, Father Robert Thornton became parish priest, beginning a ministry that was to last for forty years. He appears to have been a man of energy and vision, greatly reducing the debt, making additions to the interior and establishing new school buildings on the site of the old inn next to the church. A part of the inn was converted into a convent when in November 1897, five Sisters of Mercy came to work in the parish and teach in the school. |
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| Fundraising continued and the contract for the building of the tower was signed in July 1908. On the 26th September 1909, a statue of St Godric was placed in a niche in the newly completed tower, and it was blessed after mass. The solemn re-opening of the church took place on Wednesday, 27th October,1909. |
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| In 1914, the high altar was erected by Canon Thornton in memory of his parents. However, the celebrations to mark the jubilee of the church had to be cancelled when the First World War broke out. At the beginning of January 1915, came news of the first parishioner to die in action, Joseph Kinsley. Over the next few years, both during and after the war a number of meetings were held in the parish to organize the establishment of a war memorial and each family in the parish was asked to give £1 to the fund. Finally on Sunday the 29th May 1923 the memorial was completed and a ceremony held to mark it's unveiling |
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The church is about 130 feet long with a tower at the west end, that contains the entrance. The church consists of a nave with an aisle and side chapel to the north. The pillars between the nave and the north aisle are of Aberdeen granite.The north- east window contains the figures of St William, Archbishop of York in the twelfth century and St Ralph, Bishop of Bourges in the ninth century
The east window depicts the occasion from the life of St Godric, when it is said Mary the mother of Jesus appeared to St Godric and taught him a hymn
The south-east window has the figures of St Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede The interior of the church was badly damaged in a fire in 1985, the roof was completely destroyed and collapsed into the nave, it took over a year for repairs to be completed. Results of the fire can still be seen in the Stations of the Cross, many of which were smoke blackened and have been left as a reminder of the event. |
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| In the nineteen sixties, with the start of the Newton Hall housing development it was realized that once again further expansion was needed. A site was purchased on the edge of the new development, for the erection of not only a new church but also a new presbytery and new school; to replace the one in the city center. |
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| St Bede's is named after the Venerable Bede a great northern saint who is interred in Durham Cathedral it is a modern functional building on two levels, the ground floor with access directly from the car park is used as a community/function room, while the church itself is on the first floor, with access, both by stairs and a long shallow ramp leading directly to the main door.Accsess between the floors has been enhanced by in installation of chair lifts. |
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| The parish is somewhat unusual, in having two church buildings however at the time of building St Bedes it was felt that it was important to maintain links between the new estate and the city Sometime after St Bede's was completed the new presbytery was built next to it. |
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| In January of 1985 St Godric's was badly damaged by a fire. The roof was completely destroyed and collapsed into the nave. It took over a year for repairs to be completed. Parishioners had to raise over £100,000. Many events were undertaken,and as news of the fire spread donations were sent from all parts of the country. The parish was overwhelmed by the kindness of neighboring christian communities, so out of disaster came opportunities for deeper understanding between faiths, that is still being build on today. After much hard work the burnt remains of the church were restored into a place of worship and welcome. |
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| The long awaited new school building was opened, close to St Bede's church in 1996. The old building was sold and converted into housing. |
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This is the parish history of which we are appreciative, but as a christian community we are committed to the present and the future , a commitment that is reflected in a proem by Bishop Guy Deroubaix entitled
"A Poem and Prayer of Hope for the Church and our Parish"
A few lines of the poem are quoted below:
"May we be a parish where it is good to live...
A church of which people will say...
See how they love one another... |
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Copyright (C) 2004 Parish of St Godric's and St Bede's. All rights reserved. |
BUS TO ST GODRIC'S
A minibus takes the trip from St Bede's to St Godric's on a
Sunday morning at 9.45am
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St Godric's
Sunday 10am-6pm
St Bede's
Saturday 6.30pm
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