Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Ray Forster on 23/6/2025, 9:27 pm

Hope you can see it, as it's a screenshot from my phone.

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Stan Wears on 23/6/2025, 10:26 pm, in reply to "Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Sad news Ray. Historically wise St Cuthbert's is not a listed building but was erected in 1875. As for St. Oswald's it was built in 1883, 5 years before St Aloysius RC church. Both St. Cuthbert's and St. Oswald's formed under the same diocese in 2006. That news has certainly rocked my boat. However, if anyone hears any more about any closure and it is certain, please let me know and I will travel from Liverpool to arrange some photographic records for historical purposes. I am find lots of churches all over the Uk, closing their doors for good and without any form of photography and their history disappearing along with them. Thank you Ray.

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Norman on 23/6/2025, 10:39 pm, in reply to "Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

So sad to hear news like that Ray.
People don't seem to go to church nowadays.
CHRISTIANITY seems to be dying out sadly.
I was a RC and went to St Aloysius for mass every Sunday (as it was a sin to miss Mass)
There was a 6am. a 7am. a 8am, a 9 am 10am and 11-15 am masses every Sunday. and all were well attended.
Other churches eg St Andrews, Glen st Weslyans, A few different Methodist chapels, Trinity
Church,Gospel Hall are all long gone.
.

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Sheila on 24/6/2025, 8:10 am, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

It is sad to hear and see lots of Christian churches closing, but I’m one who doesn’t attend regular church now. It’s a case of if we don’t use it we lose it. Although originally Catholic, my girls went to C if E schools and I got to love the hymns and also the kindness and friendliness of vicars in villages where we lived .
I suppose all faiths have modernised. I watch Songs of praise on a Sunday, hoping to hear some well known C of E hymns, occasionally some are included, but I’m not keen on what they call the happy clappy groups., but all Christian’s and it’s nice to see.

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Brian on 24/6/2025, 9:38 am, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

A lot of churches haven't moved with the times, they don't reach out to the community, this isn't always down to the vicars etc but quite often the diocese. Our local vicar doesn't only cover his church but 4 others two of them outside Newcastle, how can you realistically serve all the communities adequately when you're being stretched. He retires next year and cannot wait, and he said he isn't the only one. A church near us was bought by a congregation of African Baptists. We know the pastor as his sons went to school with my boys. It's rammed every week, they make the church hall available to community groups for free, last Christmas they delivered a gift to every house in the area of the church. They are relatively new to the area as churches go(5years) but have gone out into the community making themselves known without being pushy.
A lot of churches or really the congregations have a siege mentality they don't always make the newcomer welcome, and the smaller the congregation the more of a closed shop they become. Congregations are increasingly older, less active and do not seem to engage or don't know how to engage with younger people.
I can remember Sunday schools when I was a kid, do they still exist? The church as we knew it seems to be in decline and do not know how to address it or reverse it, they seem quite happy to close churches, they're valuable as are vicarages, in the North East I've seen vicarages for sale for around £700k I would think they would top 7 figures further south.
The newer styles of Christian worship seem to attract younger people whereas 'old school ' just doesn't any more.

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 24/6/2025, 9:43 am, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Sad to hear .Will always think in fondness as my church .Confirmed on the first of march 1959 by the Bishop of Jarrow still have the prayer book .Have a photo somewhere taken from a distance outside church see a lot of the church with late cousin Marlene and Ann B. Who posts on here they both went to America to live Happy memories also of Vicar Cosserat lovely man .

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Stan Wears on 24/6/2025, 11:35 am, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

I've already found out that the news has spread across the diocese but I'm unable to contact anyone as the numbers on the internet do not work. Anyway, I'm told this will take a long time to complete both closures....

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 24/6/2025, 11:54 am, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Stan tel number listed as 01914284454

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Stan Wears on 24/6/2025, 11:57 am, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Thanks Maria but it is one that doesn't connect...

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 24/6/2025, 12:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Rang it Stan no connection there was to st Cuthberts the one I went to .Rang couple years ago to tell them about my cousin who had died in America and to say a prayer for her as it was her church also .

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Stan Wears on 24/6/2025, 12:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

I will keep trying all sorts as the history must also be saved in photo form. Thanks Maria.

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 24/6/2025, 2:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Stan rang st Oswalds Hebburn which is part of st Cuthberts is rings then answer machine comes on to leave a message telephone number 0191 4204961 good luck .

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Stan Wears on 24/6/2025, 3:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Thank you Maria. If these beautiful churches go, I dread to think what will happen to them. Pulled down? Converted to housing? Flats? Not just that but hundreds of years of history up the chute. I belong to a village society where liverpool Council can't destroy it.

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 24/6/2025, 3:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Stan have just had a telephone call from st St Oswalds church a lady called Lynne as I came up as a missed call hope ok but I said you would ring her .

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Stan Wears on 24/6/2025, 6:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Thank you again Maria! I'm onto it !

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 24/6/2025, 6:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Best wishes Stan .Maria .

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Stan Wears on 25/6/2025, 7:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Thank you again Maria! Just waiting for them to ring me back.

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 26/6/2025, 8:28 am, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Hi Stan sure someone will. I had not spoken so left no message with the answer machine the lady had seen missed call and rang .So someone must be around sometime good luck .

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Stan Wears on 27/6/2025, 12:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Progress is underway ! Lets hope we get those photos for history...

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 27/6/2025, 1:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Really hope so Stan .

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Stan Wears on 28/6/2025, 3:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Well, St Aloysius is linked to St James's but the good news is, St. Aloysius is GRII listed so they can't get their mitts on it to build flats etc! Unfortunately, St Cuthbert's isn't a listed building and trying to get it listed takes months or even years which would be too late to save any demolition. The only way we can all play a major part is get a petition up like Park Church. As Norman said, the congregations are getting less and I already know the losses of heritage we face. However, a few years ago, the parish priest at St. Aloysius got me to talk to the lottery funding about a new roof and it worked. A quick chat about the history did the trick as it left a great impression! They got one! Playing an active part can save these buildings. The petition is worth a thought.

Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site

Posted by Maria Ratheram on 28/6/2025, 4:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Local Church News on Pictorial Hebburn Facebook Site"

Hi Stan I expected to read there would be a petition for Durham court flats nothing .St Cuthberts congregation would have decreased over the years . We may hear something when you come up to take the photos if anything happening Good Luck .

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No bad language or derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.