St Mary's Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in

Stockton-on-Tees Stockton-on-Tees, often simply referred to as Stockton, is a market town in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham, England. It is on the northern banks of the River Tees, part of the Teesside built-up area. The town had an estimated ...

. It was built in 1842 and designed by Augustus Pugin in the

Gothic Revival style Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

. According to Historic England, the current building was first permanent Roman Catholic church to be built in Teesside since the Reformation. It is located in the town centre, on the corner of Norton Road and Major Street, with the A1305 road to the north of it. It is a Grade II listed building.Church of St Mary, Norton Road
from Historic England, retrieved 31 January 2022

History

Construction

In 1790, a Catholic chapel was built in Stockton-on-Tees. From the chapel the local Catholic population was served by a Catholic mission founded by a Fr Joseph Dugdale. With the increasing Catholic population, he decided that a new larger church was needed. He sought Augustus Pugin as architect to build the church. On 7 July 1842, the present church was opened by Bishop Francis Mostyn, the Apostolic Vicariate of the Northern District. Historic England
Stockton-on-Tees – St Mary
from ''Taking Stock'', retrieved 31 January 2022 In 1866, the north aisle and the lower part of the tower was added. They cost £1,300. In 1870, the south aisle and sanctuary were added. They were designed by George Goldie and cost £4,000. In 1909, the upper part of the tower and the presbytery were added. They were designed by Charles Hadfield, son of Matthew Ellison Hadfield. In 1970, the sanctuary was reordered and the roof was replaced.

Developments

St Mary's Church was the only Catholic church in Stockton-on-Tees until the 20th century. With the town and local Catholic population increasing,

missions Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to: Organised activities Religion * Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity *Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...

were started from St Mary's Church to serve other parts of Stockton-on-Tees. In 1908, a mission was started in the south of Stockton-on-Tees, resulting in a wooden church being built on the corner of Yarm Road and Spring Street. A permanent church was built on the same site, and on 8 July 1958, St Cuthbert's Church was opened. Before 1933, the Catholics in Norton went to St Mary's Church for Mass. In the 1920s, plans were made to construct a church there. In 1926, the

Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province. History With the gradual abolition of the legal restricti ...

Joseph Thorman Joseph Thorman (6 August 1871 – 7 October 1936) was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle from 1924 to 1936. Born in Gateshead, County Durham on 6 August 1871, he was ordained to the pri ...

bought Ragworth Hall and four acres of land from the Ropner family in Norton for the future construction of a church and a school. Mass was first said in Norton in 1933 in the library of Ragworth Hall by a Fr Thornton, the first parish priest. St Joseph’s Church was built on the site of its stables and coach house. In 1933, St Joseph’s Church was opened. In the 1950s, the population and town continued to grow and St Mary's Church was not large enough to accommodate the expanding

congregation A congregation is a large gathering of people, often for the purpose of worship. Congregation may also refer to: *Church (congregation), a Christian organization meeting in a particular place for worship *Congregation (Roman Curia), an administra ...

. In 1951, St Bede's Church was built on Bishopton Road, and in 1956, Saints Peter and Paul Church was built to serve the area around Roseworth. On 19 September 1956, Saints Peter and Paul church was opened, it cost £24,000 and had a capacity of around 600 people. In 2010, English Martyrs Church was closed and the two parishes were combined to become English Martyrs and Saints Peter and Paul Parish. In 1967, the parish of St Patrick was created for Fairfield. In 1973, the church was built. Historic England
St Patrick's Church, Stockton-on-Tees
''Taking Stock'', retrieved 31 January 2022

Parish

The parish of St Mary's Church, along with the parishes of English Martyrs and Saints Peter and Paul Church, St Bede's Church, St Cuthbert's Church, St Joseph's Church, and St Patrick's Church, all in Stockton-on Tees are in the St Hilda Partnership. St Mary's Church has one Sunday Mass at 6:00pm, English Martyrs and Saints Peter and Paul Church has its Sunday Mass at 6:00pm on Saturday. St Bede's Church has its Sunday Mass at 4:30pm on Saturday. St Cuthbert's Church has its Sunday Mass at 11:00am. St Joseph's Church has its Sunday Mass at 10:30am. St Patrick's Church has its Sunday Mass at 9:00am.

Exterior

St Mary's Church, Stockton-on-Tees.jpg, Side of church St Mary's Church Statue and Plaque, Stockton-on-Tees.jpg, Statue and plaque

References

External links

*
Stockton-on-Tees parish site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Mary's Church, Stockton-on-Tees Grade II listed churches in County Durham Buildings and structures in Stockton-on-Tees Roman Catholic churches completed in 1842 Roman Catholic churches in County Durham Grade II listed Roman Catholic churches in England Gothic Revival church buildings in England Gothic Revival architecture in County Durham 1842 establishments in England 19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United Kingdom