St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Cuthbert’s Church, Darlington |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington
|
|
 St Cuthbert’s Church, Darlington
Location in County Durham
|
|
| 54°31′27″N 1°33′4.8″W / 54.52417°N 1.551333°W | |
| Location | Darlington |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Cuthbert of Lindisfarne |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 130 feet (40 m) |
| Width | 75 feet (23 m) |
| Nave width | 44 feet (13 m) |
| Spire height | 180 feet (55 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Darlington St Cuthbert |
| Deanery | Darlington |
| Archdeaconry | Auckland |
| Diocese | Durham |
St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington is a historic church located in Darlington, County Durham, England. It is part of the Church of England and has been a place of worship for many centuries.
Contents
History of St Cuthbert's Church
How the Church Began
St Cuthbert's Church was first built in the early 12th century. That's over 900 years ago! Imagine all the history this building has seen.
In 1439, the church became a "collegiate" church. This meant it had a special group of clergy, led by a "Dean" and four "prebendaries." They worked together to manage the church. This system lasted until 1550 when it was stopped.
Lightning Strike and Repairs
On July 17, 1750, lightning struck the church's spire. This caused damage, and the tower had to be rebuilt. The new tower was finished in 1752.
Big Changes in the 1800s
A huge restoration project happened between 1864 and 1865. Two famous architects, George Gilbert Scott and James Pigott Pritchett, led the work. The repairs cost about £1,590, which was a lot of money back then! A generous person, William Vane, 3rd Duke of Cleveland, gave £500 towards it.
During this restoration, many parts of the church were updated:
- Old galleries and ceilings were removed.
- Windows in the nave and transepts were opened up.
- Pews were rearranged for better seating.
- Some damaged stalls were replaced.
- The chancel, a special area near the altar, was fully restored. It got new floor tiles and eleven beautiful stained glass windows.
New items were also added to the church. A font made of grey polished marble was donated. A lectern, used for reading lessons, was also given to the church. The organ was repaired, and the bells in the tower were recast, meaning they were melted down and made new again.
The church was ready for services again on December 14, 1865.
The Church Organ
The organ at St Cuthbert's Church was built in 1880 by a company called Forster and Andrews. It cost about £1,000 at the time. Over the years, it has been updated by other companies like Binns Fitton & Haley and Bishop & Son.
Today, it is a large organ with 38 "stops," which means it can make many different sounds. It has three keyboards for the hands and one for the feet. The famous organist William Thomas Best played it when it first opened on November 3, 1880.
Who Plays the Organ?
The church has had many talented organists over the years. Here are some of them:
- George J. Crossley (around 1830s - 1850)
- Frederick Second (1850 - 1858)
- J.W. Marshall (1858 - 1896)
- Dr. Thomas Hutchinson (1896 - 1917)
- Arthur Kitson (1917 - 1941)
- Edgar Miller (1941 - ????)
- Hector C. Parr
- Paul Busby (2005 - 2012)
- David Ratnanayagam
Church Bells
The tower of St Cuthbert's Church holds a set of 8 bells. These bells were made by Gillett & Johnston in 1937. They are used to ring out beautiful music for services and special occasions.
