Latest News
Hope and Growth emerge from Adversity
03/02/2012
The story of St. Laurence’s Church, Middleton St George is a wonderful example of how a problem can be turned into an opportunity.
Back in 2008 the congregation had to move out of their Victorian building because it was unsafe and their insurance company would no ... Read on
Christian Aid's Poverty Over Cathedrals Tour
31/01/2012
Stunning sculpture to be celebrated in song and inspiring theological reflection at Durham Cathedral
A spectacular work of art about global poverty will be visiting Durham Cathedral from 18–29 February as part of a Christian Aid’s Poverty Over Cathedrals ... Read on
Good News - Government to act over Metal Thefts
27/01/2012
Churches in this Diocese, as well as elsewhere in the country, have suffered from lead theft and so yesterday's Government announcement by Theresa May is good news.
The Government has decided that legislation is the only sustainable, long-term solution to the growing ... Read on
Bishop Justin helps launch Darlington Foundation for Jobs
27/01/2012
Bishop Justin helped launch the Darlington Foundation for Jobs initiative, of which he has agreed to be the Patron. He was one of the speakers who urged business leaders at the launch at Lingfield Point, Darlington, (January 26) to pledge their support to tackling youth ... Read on
The waiting is over for St Laurence Church, Pittington
25/01/2012
After more than 900 years of waiting, St Laurence Church, Pittington has finally got its LOO. The easy accessible LOO has been twinned with one in Giharo, a small community in Rutana Province in Burundi.
On Sunday 22nd January, The Rt. Revd. Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarr ... Read on
Egg-citing news!
23/01/2012
Launched last year, the Real Easter Egg – the only Easter Egg to mention the Easter story – proved hugely popular with churches, schools and the general public.
Despite its obvious appeal, once again supermarkets have still not placed large enough orders to ... Read on
Bishop Justin on Radio 4
23/01/2012
This morning (January 23rd) Bishop Justin was interviewed on Radio 4's Today programme following his trip to Nigeria last week. He was in Northern Nigeria on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury to offer condolences and support to Christian communities who have been t ... Read on
Bishop Justin Introduced in the House of Lords
12/01/2012
Watch Bishop Justin's Introduction to the House of Lords.
Bishop Justin was introduced during an ancient ceremony which allows him to take his seat as a Lord Spiritual. He was led in by his supporters, the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of London, in their cle ... Read on
Annfield Plain and Collierley Licensing
11/01/2012
The Revd Heather Murray was licensed last night (11th January) by Bishop Justin at St Aidan's Annfield Plain.
It was a very happy service in the deanery where she had lived and trained for ministry after thirty one years as a nurse.
She will also be ass ... Read on
Follow the Diocese of Durham on Twitter now as well as Facebook
05/01/2012
You may have already started following the Diocese of Durham on Facebook.
Our Facebook page can be found at
www.facebook.com/durhamdiocese
The page can be used to share news, information, or to advertise events in your parish.
& ... Read on
Grants for Parish Community Engagement – CCF’s new focus for 2012 and beyond
04/01/2012
A new funding focus to support bridge building church community projects has been approved by the Church and Community Fund (CCF) for an initial three years starting today (3rd January 2012). The new focus will direct funding towards projects concerned with neighbourhoo ... Read on
Bishop Justin Celebrates New Years Day in Spennymoor
03/01/2012
The Bishop of Durham has celebrated the start of 2012 leading New Year’s Day worship in Spennymoor.
The Rt Revd Justin Welby joined the congregations of St Paul’s and Whitworth churches for their Sunday morning services.
In a light-hearted comment he t ... Read on
Bishop Justin's New Years Message
29/12/2011
Bishop of Durham calls for three wishes in a hard hitting New Years Message
The Bishop of Durham has today (30th December 2011) set out his thinking in a hard hitting message for 2012. In the message, Bishop Justin calls for confidence, optimism and hope based on God ... Read on
Bishop Justin's Christmas Message
22/12/2011
I'll start with something we all know. Very often (not invariably) babies bring hope. They are a signal of new life, a future, succession. And this baby, the one in the manger, is of all things and people in history the most hope bringing, hope making. He is hope itself ... Read on
Auckland Castle - Press Release
22/12/2011
Following a meeting in London today between Mr Ruffer and representatives of the Church Commissioners, an agreement in principle has been reached which ensures both the retention of the Zurbaran pictures at Auckland Castle and the preservation and development of the Cas ... Read on
Bishop Justin's Interview on Tyne Tees
21/12/2011
Bishop Justin spoke to Tyne Tees ahead of his first Christmas as our Bishop.
Frances Read of Tyne Tees said, "As he prepares for the busy Christmas weekend, he's been reflecting on the challenges and celebrations of 2011, and answering some of the questions you su ... Read on
Pause for Thought with the Archbishop of Canterbury
16/12/2011
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, spoke on BBC Radio 2's Pause for Thought.
You know how every year you say, 'This year I'm going to get Christmas sorted out. I'll have the cards written by December the first and I'll work our properly what we can afford ... Read on
Bishop issues statement about Auckland Castle and the Zurburans
08/12/2011
Developments at Auckland Castle – Bishop of Durham calls for protection of the heritage of the North East
Following the failure of the current deal to keep the Zurburban paintings at Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, the Bishop of Durham the Rig ... Read on
Film of Bishop Justin's Installation
01/12/2011
Watch the Inauguration of Bishop Justin's Ministry in 1 minute and 59 seconds.
(Presented by Mark Tallentire on the Northern Echo website)
... Read on
Bishop Justin Installed
26/11/2011
Durham has a new Bishop!
It was standing room only as a packed Cathedral shared in the special inauguration service for Bishop Justin Welby on Saturday 26 November.
Bishop Justin announced his arrival in the time-honoured manner as he struck the great North Door thr ... Read on
Bishop Justin enters his Diocese
25/11/2011
Traditionally the Bishop of Durham enters his Diocese via the Croft Bridge and is presented with the Falchion.
In medieval times a Sir John Conyers is said to have slain a dragon or "worm" that was terrorising the district. Conyers, apparently wearing a ... Read on
Prayer of the People
22/11/2011
The Prayer of the People Campaign has another dimension this week. Not only are Facebook and Twitter places for our prayers but also five actual places around our Diocese.
The week of prayer began at the Angel, Gateshead, on Monday November 21 when Bishop Justin held ... Read on
New Cathedral Canons
13/11/2011
At Evensong on 13th November five new honorary canons were installed in Durham Cathedral together with one Lay Canon, Dr David Hunt. The Honorary Canons were Alan Bartlett, Raymond Dick, David Glover, Alec Harding and Judy Hirst. The Cathedral was full of supporters for ... Read on
Growing the Kingdom 2011 and 2012
09/11/2011
In his presidential address to the November meeting of the Diocesan Synod, Bishop Mark reviewed the progress on the Diocesan priorities for 2011, and put before the Synod the proposed priorities for 2012. He pointed to encouraging signs of progress, and outlined for 201 ... Read on
Prayer of the People - Bishop Justin announces inspirational Prayer initiative
04/11/2011
Today at St Nicholas’ Church, Durham 9.30am, the new Bishop of Durham launched an initiative inviting people to join him in sharing their hopes and dreams and prayers for the region. People across the diocese will be invited to say what they long for in our commun ... Read on
Bishop Justin Consecrated
31/10/2011
The new Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Justin Welby, was consecrated bishop on Friday 28 October by Archbishop Sentamu in York Minister
On a bright, sunny Autumn day, around 2,000 people shared in the special service, including many clergy and lay people who made the jo ... Read on
'The Return Match' - the 25th Anniversary visit to Lesotho
26/10/2011
Eeyore, the Curate and Christ
By Emma Johnson
Emma Johnson is the Curate of Cockfield with Lynesack and Evenwood and was among the group which accompanied Bishop Mark to Lesotho earlier this month. The visit was the second phase of the Durham-Lesotho LINK' ... Read on
Called by God - New Readers admitted and licensed
17/09/2011
On Saturday 17 September, four new Readers were admitted and licensed during the Annual Readers' Service in Durham Cathedral.
Bishop Mark prays for the new Readers (right). They are (left to right) Anthony Bushell (Wolsingham, Thornley, Satley, Stanley Crook & ... Read on
New Archbishop for Alba Iulia
05/09/2011
It's not only the Diocese of Durham that's been excited about the arrival of a new Bishop. Our Link diocese of Alba Iulia in the Romanian Orthodox Church also now has a new Archbishop. Unlike the rather protracted process in the C of E, the Romanian Orthodox ... Read on
New Era for Ward Jackson School in Hartlepool
05/09/2011
After two years of planning, Ward Jackson School in Hartlepool has just become a Church of England aided primary school.
To celebrate the occasion, Stranton Church and the Burbank Community Church, held a gift day in July to raise money to ... Read on
Putting Ourselves Into the Shoes of Others
31/07/2011
On Thursday 28th July, the latest group of Authorised Pastoral Asssistants to complete their training were commissioned by Bishop Mark during a special service in Durham Cathedral.
The newly commissioned APAs are pictured (right) with Bishop Mark and Ali ... Read on
The Big Splash - Reimagining Baptism
19/07/2011
This year's Clergy Summer Gathering was held between 5th and 7th July at Van Mildert College in Durham. And, as the title indicates, the theme of the presentations and workshops was exploring new ways of approaching the theology and practice of Baptism.
... Read on
Celebrating 40 years of Ecumenism
19/07/2011
In 1971, the church at Woodhouse Close in Bishop Auckland became a Local Ecumenical Project when the Anglicans and Methodists joined to form one congregation. Since then the local United Reformed Church has also joined them and on Sunday 10th July, they celeb ... Read on
St Margaret's School Celebrate 150 years
19/07/2011
During the past few months the staff and pupils of St Margaret's Church of England Primary School in Durham have been exploring their history, creating special artwork, enjoying special outings and generally celebrating the 150 years of their history. The celebrat ... Read on
Film of new Bishop of Durham designate's appointment
12/07/2011
In this film we see Bishop of Durham designate, Justin Welby, at various locations around the Diocese on the day his appointment was announced, Ascension Day, 2nd June 2011. He is also filmed in conversation with Bishop Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow, as they reminisce a ... Read on
Petertide Ordinations
07/07/2011
On Tuesday 28th June, the ordinands came together at the Cathedral where, in a simple ceremony, they took the Oath of Allegience to the Queen and the Oath of Canonical Obedience to the Bishop. This was followed by Evensong and then supper in the Undercroft, before they ... Read on
Closure of Prebends' Bridge to all Traffic
01/07/2011
Survey work on this much loved Durham Landmark is complete. The work started in the spring and findings indicate that the Bridge is no longer capable of bearing the weight of traffic. It can continue to be used for pedestrian use and with a protective scaffold i ... Read on
The Very Rev Justin Welby’s diplomatic and business skills will be put to the test as Bishop of Durham, writes Michael Binyon
11/06/2011
Writing in The Times (11.6.11) Michael Binyon says: The Very Rev Justin Welby’s diplomatic and business skills will be put to the test as Bishop of Durham.
Few bishops have begun their careers running an oil company. Even fewer have had as rapid a rise through ... Read on
Treasure in the Workplace
07/06/2011
The Annual Service of the Northumbrian Industrial Mission, which traditionally follows their AGM, was held at Newcastle Cahtedral on Thursday 12 May. The guest preacher was the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, Bishop Frank White (pictured below). The ... Read on
Where angels fear to tread
07/06/2011
Damon Bage, vicar of St Michael & All Angels, Norton Stockton on Tees is training hard for the bike ride of his life.
He and a group of friends plan to cycle the Coast to Coast route from Whitehaven to Sunderland on Thursday 28th July, to ra ... Read on
New Bishop-Designate of Durham Announced
02/06/2011
The appointment of the new Bishop Designate of Durham The Very Revd Justin Welby was announced on Thursday 2nd June - Ascension Day.
Justin Welby, is currently Dean of Liverpool and is very much looking forward to being part of the continuing renewal of ... Read on
A busy day for the new Bishop designate
02/06/2011
Durham's new Bishop designate, Justin Welby, arrived at St Chad’s Community Project in Bensham, Gateshead to be greeted by the Project Manager, Christine McDarmont and local community representatives. He was introduced by Bishop Mark who outlined some of Justin&rs ... Read on
Back to Church Sunday Training Event
28/05/2011
DIOCESAN PRIORITY: GROWTH
Almost sixty people took part in the first of two Diocesan Training Events on Back to Church Sunday and Being a Welcoming Church. The event took place at Durham High School for Girls on Saturday 14th May and, having b ... Read on
Celebrating 125 years of organ music
28/05/2011
A tiny County Durham Church has celebrated raising nearly £40,000 to save its 125-year-old organ.
The organ at Whitworth Church near Spennymoor was in need of urgent restoration and faced the prospect of falling silent forever. However, with the generosity of l ... Read on
DHSfG Leavers' Service includes Headteacher
28/05/2011
A thanksgiving service was held on Wednesday 11 May in Durham Cathedral for
Mrs Ann Templeman, Headmistress of Durham High School for Girls, and the departing Upper Sixth students.
Mrs Templeman will be retiring in August 2011 after 13 years of distinguished service ... Read on
BREATHING SPACE
28/05/2011
A project to help people find health and wellbeing
During the past few months the congregation of St Michael and All Angels Witton Gilbert have been exploring ways of adapting their church, both inside and outside, so that it becomes more frequently used and by a wider ... Read on
Bishop Mark's address at Diocesan Synod - 21 May 2011
22/05/2011
Some of you of a certain generation will know about Joyce Grenfell; Joyce Grenfell of the ‘George don’t do that dear’ monologues. Joyce Grenfell often used to come and perform at the Deanery in Durham when Dean Allington was Dean, and the story is told ... Read on
Sponsored walk for Cathedral Music Outreach
10/05/2011
On Friday 13 May, staff, family and friends of Profound Services Ltd in Peterlee (one of Durham Cathedral’s Corporate Partners) took part in a sponsored walk between St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth and Durham Cathedral to support the Cathedral's Music Outreach Pr ... Read on
Sermon preached by Bishop Mark at the Chrism Eucharist in Durham Cathedral on Maundy Thursday
21/04/2011
It always strikes me as noteworthy, and a little disarming, that those of us who have been ordained renew our ordination vows at this point in Holy Week. Tonight we shall remember Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and I think there that what we see is a mark of Jesus&r ... Read on
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY 2011
16/04/2011
Now is the time to begin planning for your church's involvement in Back to Church Sunday 2011.
The date is Sunday 25th September
How to Get Involved
1. Register online at www.backtochurch.co.uk
We’ll e mail you when new ... Read on
£15m donation secures Zurbarán pictures for The North East
02/04/2011
Church Commissioners announce vision for future of Auckland Castle
Late on Wednsday night (30th March) the Church Commissioners issued a significant statement about the future of Auckland Castle. It said:
It is intended that Auckland Castle shall become a l ... Read on
METAL THEFT - SECURITY IS THE ANSWER
31/03/2011
The clear message that emerged from the various speakers during the morning conference on Metal Theft was: ‘It’s far better to make buildings secure and deter thieves than trying to catch them and prosecute after the damage is done.’
The meeting, or ... Read on
THE BIBLE GOES ON A JOURNEY
22/03/2011
Celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible in Durham Diocese
Unlike last year, when a total of 506 people took a share in reading the whole Bible in Durham Cathedral over several weeks during Lent, this year the Bible is being taken to where people are. ... Read on
LINK Anniversary Visit
01/03/2011
As part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the Durham-Lesotho LINK, a group of Basotho people from various parts of Lesotho have arrived in Durham Diocese. During their stay in the Diocese, our Basotho friends will be visiting each of the Deaneries for an eve ... Read on
Local author writes Archbishop's Lent Book for 2011
08/02/2011
Every year the Archbishop of Canterbury selects a book to commend to individuals and groups to study during Lent. The book is known as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book. The author of this year’s book is Stephen Cherry, a Canon of Durham Cathedra ... Read on
Archbishop of York's Presidential Address at General Synod
08/02/2011
THEME: Re-Connecting and Refreshing the Wellsprings of Solidarity in England
"I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose".
So says Our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke, chapter 4, vers ... Read on
Almost half of Durham’s pensioners are putting their lives at risk
01/02/2011
According to some research commissioned by the Gas Safety Register in the North East in January 2011 39% of Durham pensioners are risking their lives when it comes to gas safety because they are using old gas appliances that haven’t been serviced. And w ... Read on
Young Leaders Complete the Course
31/01/2011
Durham Diocese's first CPAS Growing Young Leaders Course has now been completed.
Andy Hawkins reports on behalf of the Sowing the Seeds Project.
The Course originally came about when we began to explore the title ‘We Believe Children and Young Peop ... Read on
CofE Essential part of UK Wedding Show
31/01/2011
Over the weekend of 29-30 January, representatives of the Dioceses of Durham and Newcastle were, once again, involved in the UK Wedding Show at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena.
Clergy from both dioceses and members of Newcastle Mothers' Union worked on a ro ... Read on
Churches invited to celebrate Music Sunday
25/01/2011
The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) has set 26th June 2011 as the date for the next annual RSCM Music Sunday. Churches around the world are invited to celebrate the value of music in their services and the work of their musicians - singers, instrumentalists, o ... Read on
New branding for Spennymoor church
23/01/2011
It’s a new year and a new look for St Paul’s Church as it unveils a fresh new look for 2011.
Visitors to www.stpaulsspennymoor.co.uk will see that the Church website has been given a major makeover, but the re-launched website is part of a much bigger re- ... Read on
Wearmouth-Jarrow World Heritage status a step closer
22/01/2011
The twin sites of Wearmouth-Jarrow monastery, the former home of the Venerable Bede, has been put forward by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt as the UK’s latest nomination for World Heritage Site status and, next year, could join the list which includes the Giant&rsq ... Read on
Archbishop invites young people to write about Faith in our World
17/01/2011
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has launched the 'Faith in the World' writing prize, which invites young people to submit an essay exploring faith in our world.
In an article in the Daily Telegraph he says:
"If we want to nurture a really articu ... Read on
Double Delight at Durham Cathedral
17/01/2011
On Sunday 16th January the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge joined forces with Durham Cathedral Choir to sing the service of Eucharist at Durham Cathedral.
King’s College Choir and Durham Cathedral Choir both have reputations for exc ... Read on
FAIRTRADE MEETING A GREAT SUCCESS
12/01/2011
Kathryn Sygrove, Chair of Durham City Fair Trade Partnership, reports on the inaugural countywide Fairtrade meeting in November.
The Inaugural Countywide Fairtrade Meeting in County Hall at the start of November, attracted a large invited audience, whose aim is to cr ... Read on
Stepping Out in Faith
08/01/2011
Extracts from the report of the Faith in Our Communities (FIC) Initiative in the Durham Diocesan Area
Church based projects in the Durham Diocesan area have been tackling community concerns and issues from the bottom up. The aim of the FIC project has been to address ... Read on
Big Read goes national
08/01/2011
Following the success of the BIG READ 2010, for Lent 2011 the Big Read has gone national.
The programme has been adopted by the Methodist Church and also by Biblefresh, a 'movement of churches, agencies, organisations, colleges and festivals' launched earlier this y ... Read on
Appointment of next Bishop of Durham - update
21/12/2010
DIOCESE OF DURHAM – VACANCY IN SEE
Crown Nominations Commission Representatives
At the Vacancy in See Committee meeting held on 18 December 2010 the six people named below were elected to serve on the Crown Nominations Commission, to participate in the pro ... Read on
Christ Church, New Seaham celebrate 150th anniversary
10/12/2010
On 21st November Christ Church, New Seaham celebrated the 150th Anniversary of its Consecration which took place on 21st November 1860 by the Bishop of Durham. When Christ Church was conceived and built New Seaham was a very different place. The church came about ... Read on
Exploring New Spiritual Movements
06/12/2010
Richard and Margaret Deimel recently returned to the North East after being in ministry in Coventry Diocese since 1988. Richard is now Priest-in-Charge and Margaret Self-supporting Associate Minister of Escomb, Witton Park, Etherley, Witton-le-Wear and Hamsterley. They ... Read on
Durham Chorister wins BBC Chorister of the Year 2010
06/12/2010
13 year old Liam Jones from near Chester-le-Street, is making his Royal Albert Hall debut on Saturday 11th December. Following his success as boy winner of BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2010, Liam (a former member of Durham Cathedral Choir) and Ella Taylor from Sheffi ... Read on
The Paintings at Auckland Castle
02/12/2010
Given the recent press coverage about the paintings, it may be helpful to try to set out the facts surrounding the story.
What are the paintings?
The thirteen Zurbarán Paintings hang in the Long Dining Room, each painting standing eight feet tall. They are the ... Read on
The Freemen of Durham City support Durham Cathedral’s Development Plan
01/12/2010
The Freemen of Durham City have made a generous donation to the Friends of Durham Cathedral. The donation is specifically to enable the Friends to fund the installation of a sound system in the Cathedral’s Chapter House.
The Chapter House plays an import ... Read on
Faith & Life Away Day
29/11/2010
'What is my ideal Sunday service?'
This was the first question posed to the 50 or so people from across Durham and Newcastle Dioceses who gathered together for the first Away Day of the 2010/11 Faith & Life course.
The purpose of the question was to help peo ... Read on
Ven Bede War Memorial Rededicated
25/11/2010
A war memorial which had been part of the Venerable Bede Church in Sunderland was rededicated by the Bishop of Jarrow in a special service on Armistice Day (11th November). The Duke of Kent was also there to mark the occasion and he laid a wrea ... Read on
CHANGES TO VAT
23/11/2010
A MESSAGE FROM ECCLESIASTICAL INSURANCE
With effect from 4 January 2011 the rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) will increase from 17.5% to 20%. This will impact on the sums insured for Church buildings as repairs are subject to VAT and current sums insured make prov ... Read on
Wartime Shelter Reborn As New Cathedral Chapel
18/11/2010
The ancient undercroft of Durham Cathedral’s Deanery, which has previously served as a chapel at least twice since the early years of the 20th Century, was also put to use as a dormitory air-raid shelter for the Cathedral Choristers during World War II.
Now, th ... Read on
THE BIG READ 2011
07/11/2010
Following on from the Big Read 2010, the BIG READ 2011 is now being planned.
There will be a book on Matthew by Bishop Tom similar to last year’s Lent book.
We also expect there to be:
Opportunities to bulk-buy the book through local Christian bookshops.
... Read on
GROWING THE KINGDOM - A PRIORITY FOR SYNOD
06/11/2010
In his Presidential Address to the November session of Synod, Bishop Mark focused on Growing the Kingdom and what the Bishop's Council see as priorities for 2011
The main thrust is that Growing the Kingdom in Durham Diocese involves us being a Diocese where:
W ... Read on
DFW ADOPTION . . . 19 good news stories!
28/10/2010
DFW ADOPTION CELEBRATE CENTENARY IN STYLE
On Saturday 23 October, DFW Adoption, Durham Diocese’s own voluntary adoption agency, held an Open Day as part of their Centenary celebrations. Among those who attended were Durham’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Counc ... Read on
Election Results for General Synod Representatives
14/10/2010
The results have been published of those elected to represent Durham Diocese at General Synod.
The 4 Proctors in Convocation are:
Revd David Brooke
Revd Graeme Buttery
Revd Dr Margaret Gilley
Ven Ian Jagger
The 4 Members of the House of Laity are:
Dr Angus Goudie ... Read on
THANKSGIVING FOR BISHOP ALAN SMITHSON
06/10/2010
A Thanksgiving Service for former Bishop of Jarrow, the Rt Revd Alan Smithson, who died in June, was held in Edinburgh Cathedral on Sunday 3rd October.
And there is to be a special Memorial Evensong in Durham Cathedral on Saturday 6th November at 5 ... Read on
Bishop of Jarrow in double visit to Spennymoor Church
06/10/2010
To have a Bishop visit your Church is a real honour, but to have him visit twice in a week means something rather special must be happening! Well things are certainly happening at St Paul’s Church in Spennymoor.
At the end of September the Bishop of Jarrow, ... Read on
Dedication of new Transfiguration Window in memory of Michael Ramsey at Cathedral
05/10/2010
Hundreds of people attended the dedication of the new Transfiguration window at Durham Cathedral on 25th September.
The dedication came as the climax of a day which celebrated the legacy of Bishop Michael Ramsey, formerly Canon Professor at the Cathedral, Bishop of Dur ... Read on
New Readers Licensed
18/09/2010
Seven new Readers were licensed by Bishop Mark on Saturday 18th September in Durham Cathedral.
They are pictured here with the Bishop, who is Warden of Readers and others who are involved with Reader ministry - left to right: David Talbot (Sub-Warden for ... Read on
Inspired North East Development Officer
18/09/2010
Peter Biggers has been appointed as the new Inspired North East Development Officer and his task is to help our churches in caring for our buildings, engaging with the local community, raising our profile, increasing our footfall and therefore hopefully income, and incr ... Read on
Will Aid
16/09/2010
Where there’s a Will
Durham is joining with other dioceses of the Church of England and the Church in Wales to support the Will Aid campaign this November. This new initiative was introduced to Local Giving Officers (LoGOs) at their last seminar on Sat ... Read on
DURHAM - LESOTHO LINK'S 25th ANNIVERSARY
09/09/2010
Next year’s 25th anniversary celebrations of the Durham Lesotho LINK will take place in both dioceses during the year.
Durham diocese will be hosting a visit by a group of about twenty Basotho at the end of February and beginning of March next year. The intent ... Read on
Bishop's Move
18/08/2010
Just a few days before leaving for Scotland Bishop Tom was featured on the BBC Look North programme
The piece was filmed at the Bishop Auckland Golf Course where the Bishop is President on Tuesday 17th August. As he 'looks north' It wa ... Read on
Moving On - Annual School Leavers' Services
16/08/2010
Year 6 pupils at the Church of England Schools in the Diocese celebrate their journey to Secondary School.
The annual School Leavers' services organised by the Board of Education took place in Durham Cathedral over 3 days from 6 to 8 July.
Pictured right are some ... Read on
Hartlepool Churches Together at Tall Ships
09/08/2010
From Friday 7th to Tuesday 10th August, representatives of the various churches in Hartlepool handed out 'goody bags' to visitors to the Tall Ships event. People were also encouraged to write prayer requests on a specially constructed Prayer Wall - and they did!&n ... Read on
Bishop Tom goes out with Jazz and Jam
28/07/2010
On Sunday 25 July, Bishop Tom and Maggie Wright hosted a garden party at Auckland Castle to celebrate the work of international relief and development agency Christian Aid, This was Bishop Tom's last event as Bishop of Durham before retiring at the end of Aug ... Read on
New Authorised Pastoral Assistants
28/07/2010
CALLED TO TRUE HOSPITALITY
On Monday evening, 19 July, the latest group of Authorised Pastoral Assistants (APAs) was commissioned in the Cathedral by Bishop Mark.
There were three new APAs - Barbara Butcher from All Saints, Stranton in Hartlepool, Pat Davis&nbs ... Read on
Petertide Ordinations
28/07/2010
The ordinations at Petertide this year were Bishop Tom's last as Bishop of Durham. He presided over the ordination of seven new Deacons on Sunday 27th June, while Bishop Mark conducted his first ordinations on the previous evening, ordaining eleven new Priests.&nb ... Read on
Clerical Shirts
14/07/2010
Revd Sheilagh Williamson is currently in Uganda and has discovered a source for fairly traded women's clerical shirts.
Click here to download an order form.
Forms should be returned to her email sheilaghwilliamson@msn.com, instructions on form.
An orde ... Read on
Diocese Bids Farewell to Bishop Tom and Maggie
14/07/2010
On Tuesday evening, 13th July, people from all over the diocese and beyond packed into Durham Cathedral for a special service of 'celebration and farewell' for Bishop Tom and Maggie Wright.
Pictured right - Following the presentation of flowers to Maggie Wright sh ... Read on
Memories of MIchael Ramsey
29/05/2010
From Canon Rosalind Brown, Durham Cathedral.
A while ago I appealed for people's memories of Michael and Joan Ramsey's years in Durham, with a view to publishing a tribute to them to coincide with the dedication of the new Transfiguration stained glass window in the Ca ... Read on
CHANCEL REPAIR LIABILITY AND REGISTRATION
27/05/2010
GUIDANCE NOTE CONCERNING
CHANCEL REPAIR LIABILITY AND REGISTRATION
Chancel Repair Liability is the legal obligation to meet the cost of repairing the chancel of a parish church. It arises as a consequence of owning property formerly belonging to the rector of a parish ... Read on
Passionate about Mission. Celebrating God in the workplace
13/05/2010
The Northumbrian Industrial Mission held their annual service in the Metro Centre's Town Square on Tuesday 11th May. Where better for an act of worship which was celebrating the work of industrial mission to take place than in the market p ... Read on
Day Out on the Buses
04/05/2010
On Wednesday 28th April people from all over the diocese in small groups and individually spent the day travelling about on buses to raise money for the Lesotho LINK.
The aim of the Great North Bus Challenge was to raise as much money as possible but also& ... Read on
Jazz for Water Aid in Gainford
26/04/2010
Jazz and Pasta combine to help Water Aid
Geoff Taylor reports
A full house in Gainford Village Hall enjoyed an evening of Trad Jazz on Saturday 17th of April, as well as a splendid Italian supper, and succeeded in raising £561 for the international charity Water ... Read on
Holy Week in Stockton
14/04/2010
The excitement and anticipation of the first Palm Sunday was experienced in Stockton Parish Church on Palm Sunday when family members arrived to Sunday morning worship and discovered not one but two special visitors – Jenny the Donkey, and Bishop Tom (in that orde ... Read on
Blessing of Oils
01/04/2010
On Maundy Thursday in Durham Cathedral, the Bishop of Durham blesses the Oils that will be used in various ministries in Durham Diocese during the next twelve months.
This service takes place at the same time every year. The oils that are blessed are the Oil for ... Read on
LoGOs make history
29/03/2010
'God loves a cheerful giver'
On Wednesday 24th March, Durham Cathedral was the scene of an historic event in the life of Durham Diocese as the first Local Giving Officers were commissioned by Bishop Mark.
Local Giving Officers, or 'LoGOs' as they will be&nbs ... Read on
Darlington Clergy Visit Catterick Garrison
24/03/2010
Darlington Clergy accepted an invitation to explore largely unknown territory when they visited Catterick Garrison for a Chapter meeting.
With the reorganisation that the British Army has undergone and in response to the needs of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanista ... Read on
Holy Island to Durham
21/03/2010
On St Cuthbert's Day, Saturday 20th March, people from all over the Diocese and beyond converged on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
The day was organised as part of the Cathedral's St Cuthbert's Day celebrations and took the form of a pilgrimage from Holy Island ... Read on
Unleash your talents for Christian Aid Week
16/03/2010
HOW CAN YOU UNLEASH YOUR TALENTS FOR CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2010?
This May, around 300,000 people from more than 22,000 churches will hit the streets of Britain and Ireland, working together to help end poverty. The millions they raise during Christian Aid Week (9 - 15 Ma ... Read on
Creatively Marking the Spot
16/03/2010
The current group of 30 Living Theology Today students met for a reflective weekend in the spacious surroundings of Ushaw College, 26-28 February. Set in open countryside this Catholic seminary, also now a conference centre, celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2008. In ... Read on
Ordinands 'do time' in Prison
16/03/2010
Four ordinands from Cranmer Hall, St John's College, Durham spent time in HM Prison, Durham from 5th to 7th March. However, they were not there as a punishment. Together with two people from the Wesley Studies Centre, training for the Methodis ... Read on
Landscape and the Kingdom of God
16/03/2010
January's issue of Theology magazine contained an article by the Revd Dr Ian Stockton titled 'Landscape and the Kingdom of God'.
In the article, Ian sees a connection, not only with the 'two monastery site' (as Bede called the twin monasteries of Jarrow and Wearmouth) ... Read on
BIG READ TALKS
11/03/2010
The third and final part of Bishop Tom's talks - Easter and Beyond- is now available to listen to online or download to an iPod or CD - click here
The second of Bishop Tom's talks - The Passion in Luke - is now available to listen to online or download to&nbs ... Read on
BIBLE READ CONCLUDED
22/02/2010
On Saturday 20th February, the public reading of the whole Bible in Durham Cathedral came to an end.
The last people to read came from Stanhope Deanery (pictured right with Bishop Mark).
Speaking of the experience, the Revd S ... Read on
Big Read Cathedral Launch
17/02/2010
It's official! The Big Read has been launched!
Although it has actually been under way for some weeks now with Bishop Tom's first set of talks, the official launch took place in Durham Cathedral on Saturday 13th February. It was fitting that t ... Read on
South Shields Ecumenical Seafarers' Ministry Rededicated
15/02/2010
On Sunday, 6th December, The Mission to Seafarers in South Shields welcomed Bishop Mark as he commissioned a new ecumenical chaplaincy team to serve seafarers visiting the Port of Tyne. The team will be based at the Seafarers’ Centre in Mill Dam.
The Bishop is ... Read on
Alba Iulia Link Experience
11/02/2010
Two Durham priests will soon be beginning a programme of shared experience and visiting with two Romanian Orthodox priests from the diocese of Alba Iulia. This is through the Durham-Alba Iulia Link, and builds on a three-year pilot programme which involved three pairs o ... Read on
Big Read talks - first recording now on line
08/02/2010
The Big Read is under way and Bishop Tom has now completed the first series of talks - An Introduction to Luke
These are now available on line click here to listen to the podcast.
Right click to save it to your computer for downloading to your iPod or burnin ... Read on
Stockton Town Pastors Launch
08/02/2010
A lone female outside a nightclub in the early hours of a Saturday morning, apparently drunk and distressed, is invited by a team of uniformed Town Pastors back to a nearby church hall for a coffee. Thus begins the prospect of engaging with and helping a member of the ... Read on
Grow your own organist
06/02/2010
The Diocesan Liturgical Committee’s Organist Training Scheme is designed to encourage and assist those already playing an active part in worship, but could also benefit a reasonably competent pianist (of whatever age) who might like to learn to accompany services ... Read on
Working together for the care of creation
06/02/2010
The Church of England recently produced a Seven Year Plan in response to the threat of climate change.
The plan can be found by following the links at www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org.
One objective is that all church buildings should have carbon footpr ... Read on
Humanitarian Aid - St Wilfrid's Church Craft Group
06/02/2010
St Wilfrid's Church, Doxford, Sunderland, has a Thursday night Coffee and Crafts group which has been working hard producing a variety of goods to be sent to various places around the world.
In October 2009, Val Willis from St Matthew’s Church collected the most ... Read on
Partnership Grows at St Paul's Newtown
03/02/2010
In October last year St. Paul’s Newtown: A Church of England and Methodist Church Partnership was launched in Stockton. It is the new name that heralds the coming together in Covenanted Partnership of St. Paul’s Anglican Church and Newtown Methodist Chu ... Read on
Bishop Tom spends weekend in Hartlepool Deanery
01/02/2010
Over the weekend of 23-25 January, Bishop Tom was in Hartlepool Deanery attending and participating in a variety of events. These included a men's prayer breakfast, organised by the town's Churches Together, a visit to the Mission to Seafarers' Centre at Teesport ... Read on
Thank you for praying for us!
01/02/2010
CHEERS! Looking forward to the wedding at the Church of England stand during the UK Wedding Show at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena (right). A young bride-to-be with her mother and a couple of bridesmaids with Revd Paul Neville, Rector of Middleton St George wi ... Read on
Do Something Amazing Every Day
28/01/2010
Could you do something amazing every day?
Neil Morris writes about his work recruiting foster carers for children and young people.
As a Social Worker I initially spent three years working within a Child Protection team. Most people, when they hear that, reply wit ... Read on
No Room in Darlington
27/01/2010
Darlington Town Centre Churches decided to produce a life-size Nativity scene for display in one of the shop windows.
The first offer failed to realize the size and numbers of the members of the cast, so a new venue had to be found. They were temporarily o ... Read on
CHRISTIAN AID HAITI EARTHQUAKE APPEAL
13/01/2010
CHRISTIAN AID LAUNCH EMERGENCY £1M HAITI EARTHQUAKE APPEAL
Christian Aid has launched a £1m emergency appeal for victims of the Haiti earthquake. Thousands of people are already feared dead and many more are believed to be critically injured. Countless are ... Read on
Lent for Everyone in Braille and Giant Print
12/01/2010
The ‘Big Read’ book ‘Lent for Everyone’ is being made available in Braille and Giant Print which will enable many people who cannot access normal print to take part in the ‘Big Read.’
These books are priced at the same price as a pri ... Read on
Local Giving Officers (LoGOs)
06/01/2010
Local Giving Officers (LoGOs)
This new diocesan-wide initiative has the potential to transform how we see giving in both a local and wider context. The Diocese is hoping to recruit a minimum of 100 LoGOs leading up to the official launch service in Durham ... Read on
Talk about a Skiing trip to Greenland
05/01/2010
Greenland Ski Touring Expedition
Peter Talbot talks with slides and a short DVD about a 3 week expedition in 2008, including 1st ascents, 100km of manhauling, camping and ski-planes.
The talk can be from 20 minutes to 1 hour to suit, and can be to groups of any size. ... Read on
Bishop of Jarrow - Christmas day sermon
27/12/2009
SERMON PREACHED IN DURHAM CATHEDRAL
CHRISTMAS MORNING 2009
It’s got a cute nose and big round eyes;
It’s created excitement you can’t disguise;
It’s a wonderful baby from a perfect pair,
And that’s reason enough for a great fanfare.
... Read on
Durham and Newcastle star in online Advent Calendar
21/12/2009
Durham and Newcastle Dioceses star in the Church of England's Advent Online Calendar "Why are we waiting". This year the calendar has an environmental theme running through each of the days video clip, action suggested, verse from the Bible and prayer. Watch i ... Read on
Church School's Fundraising Support for DFW Adoption
17/12/2009
The photograph shows DFW Adoption Director, Margaret Bell being presented with a cheque by Kerry Coe, Assistant Head Teacher (centre) and pupils of St Mark's Elm Tree CofE Primary School in Stockton on Tees.
The school chose DFW as their charity for the year and hav ... Read on
Sacriston Says Our Christmas Tree is 'Summit' Special
11/12/2009
OUR TREE IS SUMMIT SPECIAL
Sacriston Sings to Copenhagen Summit
At 3.45pm on Friday 11th December the people of Sacriston, in County Durham, gathered around their little tree and sang a song specially composed for the occasion by their vicar, Canon Caroline Dick.&nb ... Read on
THE WAVE - CLIMATE CHANGE MARCH
09/12/2009
It is estimated that more than 50,000 people took to the streets of London on 5 December to protest about climate change.
In doing so, they sent the strongest possible message to political leaders ahead of the historic climate change talks that began in Copenhagen o ... Read on
Normal Administration of Communion to Resume
27/11/2009
In a message from the Archbishops received today, 27th November 2009, they have said that the normal administration of Holy Communion ought to resume.
In July,during the first wave of the Swine Flu pandemic we issued national advice with regard to the administrat ... Read on
'Can these dry bones live?' - The November session of Diocesan Synod
09/11/2009
BISHOP MARK in his address to Synod on Saturday 7th November began by saying that at times, our churches must feel desparately in need of a miracle, rather like the steward at Cana of Galilee (John2: 1-11). He then went on to suggest that 'it is when all ... Read on
Weaving Communities - Faith In Our Community event
09/11/2009
Bernadette Askins reports
Faith In Our Community organised a learning event 'Weaving Communities' at Grindon United Reformed Church Communty Project in October.
Canon Stephen Cherry, Diocesan Director of Ministry, introduced ideas around social capital ... Read on
Celebrate Christingle and Support Children's Projects
20/10/2009
CELEBRATE CHRISTINGLE TO HELP BILLINGHAM CHILDREN
Go along to your local Christingle service this year and you can help The Children’s Society fund vital projects for children and young people, including The Children’s Resources Project North East in Billi ... Read on
INFORM to Transform - Resources Fair
20/10/2009
The Inform Resources Fair on Saturday 17th October was organised by the Board of Education and provided a wealth of workshops and resources for those working with children and young people.
This year it was held at Durham High School for Girls.
The day began with& ... Read on
New Bookshop at Shepherds Dene
18/10/2009
The Bishop of Jarrow will open a revamped bookshop at Shepherds Dene on 8th December.
The original bookshop was always popular browsing for Shepherds Dene's guests but was forced to close when the Newcastle branch of SPCK shut down. Housed in the entrance area a ... Read on
THE BIG READ
15/10/2009
THE BIG READ
The Gospel book for the Revised Common Lectionary Year C which begins on Advent Sunday is Luke. And next year, the BIG READ is focusing on Luke's Gospel in a variety of ways.
There are three ways into the Big Read:
(a) individual reading of th ... Read on
DFW Adoption turn things around
06/10/2009
To turn a deficit of over £90,000 to a surplus of £100,000 within 12 months is a fantastic achievement. And, as Trustee Keith Johnson (pictured right), who presented the finance report, said, this is above all down to the co-operation of DFW's 'wonderful sta ... Read on
Durham Cathedral Community Visit Lübeck
01/10/2009
David Hunt reports
As part of the Diocesan link with Germany’s North Elbian Church, in August eleven lay members of our Cathedral community paid a return visit to Lübeck, at the invitation of the Domwache, the body of volunteers whose formal task is to &lsqu ... Read on
New Readers Admitted and Licensed
28/09/2009
'God’s call is personal; he is gentle in his calling, and he waits for us to respond . . . He takes us as we are, he starts from where we are and provides for what we need. It’s not like asking someone in the street for directions and getting the answer &ldq ... Read on
Ian Cundy Thanksgiving
28/09/2009
On Sunday 27th September, Cathedral Evensong was a service of Thanksgiving for the Life of the Rt Revd Ian Cundy, Bishop of Peterborough and former Warden of Cranmer Hall in Durham who died in May. Many of Ian's friends from his time in Durham joined his wife Jo a ... Read on
Swine Flu Latest from Bishop Mark
23/09/2009
Attached is the latest letter from the Archbishops about Swine Flu.
To read it click here
You will note:
The commitment to review in October;
That this is not primarily about protecting ourselves, but avoiding transmission to others;
It is probably ... Read on
Durham Cathedral hosts the Thanksgiving Service for Sir Bobby Robson
22/09/2009
Durham Cathedral has never seen so many top footballers and managers together at the same time.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Lineker, Fabio Capello, Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoyne and many, many others who, together with his family came to remember and give thanks for th ... Read on
Installation of Mark Mcintosh
15/09/2009
On Wednesday 9th September the Cathedral welcomed Mark Mcintosh as he was installed as Canon Professor during Evensong.
Mark has moved from America to join the Cathedral community, the Diocese and Durham University, and to be the Van Mildert Professor of Theology. ... Read on
ARCHBISHOP OF YORK'S VISIT
30/07/2009
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu spent two busy days (27-28 July) visiting various projects around Durham Diocese.
These included meeting some of the staff at the Diocesan Office, visits to two local councils - Gateshead and Hartlepool, and celebrat ... Read on
Swine Flu Guidelines
23/07/2009
Swine Flu - latest national guidance from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
On the advice of the Department of Health the Archbishops have written to all diocesan bishops with the following:
'The Department of Health have recently advised us that 'in a pandemic i ... Read on
Time Matters for Clergy
07/07/2009
The theme for the annual summer gathering for clergy this year focused on the subject of time TIME MATTERS - a very relevant and fascinating subject. And the organisers managed to put together an excellent programme with some very in ... Read on
Bishop's Ceritificates for 2009 Awarded
04/07/2009
On Tuesday evening, 16th June, those who have been working towards the Bishop's certificate in Youth Work and Children's Work gathered in the Chapel at Auckland Castle for the award ceremony.
After presenting each of them with their certificate, Bishop Tom Wrigh ... Read on
Thin Spots for God's Light - new Priests and Deacons ordained
29/06/2009
Over the weekend of 27 and 28 June, 11 new Priests and 12 new Deacons were ordained to parishes in Durham Diocese by the Bishop of Durham in Durham Cathedral.
The photograph (above) is the new priests being presented to the Bishop and making their declaration ... Read on
St Columba's Centre Dedicated
26/06/2009
On Sunday 14th June, Bishop Tom joined the congregation of St Columba’s and their invited guests from the mother church, St Aidan’s, and Hartlepool Deanery for the special dedication service. Fr Jonathan Rhodes, the Priest in Charge, welcomed everyone to thi ... Read on
Zurburan Costume Exhibition
24/06/2009
The Long Dining Room in Auckland Castle has an additional attraction at the moment with an exhibition of the costumes worn by the patriarchs, Jacob and his sons, in Francisco de Zurburán’s famous series of paintings.
The costumes were designed and made b ... Read on
Shepherds Dene rededication
22/06/2009
Shepherds Dene entered a new phase of its life on 17 June with a service of rededication in the chapel and a supper to celebrate its reopening after the recent refurbishments.
Welcoming friends and guests to the ceremony was the chair of the Shepherds Dene ... Read on
Stranton Sponsored Abseil
15/06/2009
In 2007 the youth group at All Saints, Stranton in Hartlepool, organised a trip to Moldova with the help of a charity called Urban Saints. The purpose of the visit was to help serve a small community there by running children's clubs and renovating a house. Since t ... Read on
Lines of Continuity
15/06/2009
An astonishing task in an astonishing place.
Sunderland calligrapher Susan Moor is seen working on a full size copy of an opening from the Codex Amiatinus in St Peter’s, Monkwearmouth where it was created at the turn of the 8th century. Susan is at work in fro ... Read on
CSI for the day
15/06/2009
On Thursday 7th May police chaplains in the Diocese, with chaplains form other forces in the region, became Crime Scene Investigators for a day.
They put their investigative skills to the test, in an exercise in a blood analysis room at the forensic training centre a ... Read on
Walking Bede's Way for Christian Aid
15/06/2009
On Saturday 6th June, around 150 people joined Bishop Tom for the 12 mile scenic walk between St. Peter’s Church at Monkwearmouth, Sunderland and St. Paul’s Church, Jarrow.
This is the 'Bede’s Way Walk' and the purpose was to raise money for Christ ... Read on
Challenging Day on the Buses
15/06/2009
THE GREAT NORTH BUS CHALLENGE - Wednesday 6th May
For some of the participants the Great North Bus Challenge was more aptly named than the organisers realised! Many of those who participated commented on how much they had enjoyed the whole experience, of taking part in ... Read on
To Russia With Love
12/06/2009
After a few false starts the parishioners of St John the Divine at Stillington had almost given up hope of finding a home for their elderly piano. By chance the Reader at St John's, Pam Russell, had a friend connected with the Chernobyl Children’s Project (UK).
A ... Read on
Parachuting for Pat
12/06/2009
Pat Hardy was described as 'an inspirational woman who touched the lives of many people, not least in her roles as Head Teacher and Ordained Local Minister in the church'. And in, what Revd John Barron, Curate of St Mary’s Church, Whickham, says was 'a moment of m ... Read on
16th Century Chalice Saved for Cathedral
12/06/2009
Quick action by Cathedral's Friends secures unique 16th century artefact
The Matthew Chalice and Paten
On Friday 8th May, the Curator of the Bowes Museum alerted the Librarian of Durham Cathedral to the fact that a pewter chalice that had belonged to a Bishop of Durha ... Read on
First for Hartlepool Deanery
12/06/2009
In a first for Hartlepool deanery, St Hild’s Church of England school hosted the annual confirmation service on Sunday 10th May. Nineteen candidates were confirmed by Bishop Tom and these included members of staff: English teacher, John Wild and the school’s ... Read on
Trauma Teddies
23/04/2009
Did you know that the fifth object of Mothers' Union is to help those whose family life has met with adversity?
MU members around the world take this very seriously and spend a great deal of time, effort and money to help those in need.
One of the particular pr ... Read on
St Andrew's Church reordered at last
23/04/2009
St Andrew's Church, Haughton le Skerne has also been undergoing some reordering. The new dias and furniture were dedicated at a special service in January, followed by a champagne reception.
With such an ancient and historic building, dating back to the 12th century, ... Read on
Sowing the Seeds
23/04/2009
Sheila Bamber reports on various aspects of the Sowing the Seeds project.
We have had a very positive response from across the diocese as we continue to explore what outreach and contact with young people may look like in your setting. Not only have we been involved in ... Read on
DFW Adoption is school's chosen charity for 2009
23/04/2009
The staff and puplis of St Mark's Elm Tree Primary School in Stockton, have chosen DFW Adoption as their special charity for 2009. And in March two members of staff from the diocese's adoption agency visited the school.
Dave Harrop is one of DFW Adoption's social wor ... Read on
Deanery First
23/04/2009
John Dean reports on a first for Darlington deanery when Eastbourne Church of England Academy hosted one of the annual confirmation services on 24th March.
Three of the candidates are members of staff at the Academy. Although they all live in different par ... Read on
Hart Project encourages community
22/04/2009
Since Hart village lost its Post Office, the streets have been much quieter in the mornings. People no longer walk on a daily basis to buy newspapers and find those chance meetings where they stop to exchange news and views.
Hart Curate, the Revd Janet Burbury (pict ... Read on
Coundon Church's Learning Porch
22/04/2009
To mark the completion of the work, St James' held a Preview Evening in March to thank all those who have been involved with the project.
The Church now boasts kitchen facilities and disabled toilet. The jewel in the crown is the new exhibition area entitled ‘T ... Read on
Christian Aid's David Pain interviewed
22/04/2009
David Pain, Christian Aid's head of Africa, was back in the North East on Saturday (28 February) to take part in the Newcastle office's Stories of Hope event at St. Mary's Church, Heworth, Gateshead.
John Clay reports
David talked to local people about the chari ... Read on
Cathedral reaches out through music
22/04/2009
A recent Concert given by 250 children from 8 Durham schools was a celebration of the partnership between County Durham Schools, the Durham Cathedral Choristers and the Cathedral Music Outreach Programme.
Since January the children have been working hard under the d ... Read on
25 Years of Mission to Seafarers
22/04/2009
Seaham Seafarers Centre recently celebrated twenty five years of Ecumenical Service to the seafarers who visit the Port of Seaham Harbour.
A service of thanksgiving was held at the Mission on Sunday the 15th February. The Preacher was the Rt Revd Mark Bryant the Bis ... Read on
Skipping Angel
09/03/2009
'Skipping Angel' created by Jacqui Tyson at the recent Living Theology Today residential weekend at Ushaw College.
Twenty students came together with course leader Canon Jim Francis and chaplain Mary Barr to explore the relationship of creativity and spirituality with ... Read on
New 'Rain Tax' is Drain on Church Finances
09/02/2009
Changes to the charging schemes for surface and highways water drainage have already begun to affect churches and there is growing concern over this. It was debated during Parliamentary Questions on 9 February and there was also a private members bill put to General Syn ... Read on
Archbishop maps social change for Britain
18/01/2009
The Archbishop of York has called for Britain to use the credit crunch as a time to reassess its priorities as a country and to rediscover its vision as a nation.
Dr. John Sentamu said: “With the global financial crisis, we have seen a sudden and traumatic i ... Read on
Bishop expresses shock at Nissan job cuts
15/01/2009
Following the announcement that 400 temporary workers at the Nissan
plant in Sunderland are to be made redundant, the Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom
Wright expressed his concern and support for those who have lost their jobs,
as well as those who may face redundanc ... Read on
HMS Bulwark leaves its mark
12/12/2008
HMS Bulwark is one of two Amphibious Assault Landing Platform Dock ships in the Royal Navy and has strong associations with the County and Diocese of Durham.
During the ship's short visit to the region in early December, Bishop Tom was invited to lead a specia ... Read on
Lesotho has new Bishop
03/12/2008
Even as the sun rose on Sunday 19th October they started to arrive - a thin trickle of enthusiasts, which rapidly swelled to a large multitude of about 3,000 people hoping to gain some of the better seats at what promised to be one of the most significant even ... Read on
Journey Unveiled
23/10/2008
Fenwick Lawson's bronze sculpture of the monks bearing St Cuthbert's coffin now sited in Millennium Square, Durham, was unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal on Friday 26th September.
During the cermony, The Dean spoke St Cuthbert and his importance to Durham. ... Read on
Sowing the Seeds Project launched
23/10/2008
The Board of Education's new 'Sowing the Seeds Project' was launched with three separate events, one in each Archdeaconry. During each event, the newly appointed Development worker for each Archdeaconry was commissioned, the new Board of Education website was ... Read on