About the Friends
St. Thomas’ Church, Stanhope is one of the treasures of the town, looking out over the churchyard to the market place and the castle. It has been there for baptisms, weddings and funerals for about 1000 years and nowadays hosts school services, plays and concerts as well as welcoming visitors day by day – some as tourists, some tracing family roots, some
simply needing a place of quiet and tranquillity.
The Friends of St Thomas’ Church, formed in 2017, help to maintain and care for the parish church and its churchyard. Although St. Thomas is a Grade II* listed building, it receives no regular funding from government or from central church funds. The full costs of its maintenance, insurance, heating and care of the churchyard have to be met by its
small congregation, helped by kind donations from visitors.
Friends pay a modest annual subscription, receive an annual newsletter and, if they wish, support fundraising and social events throughout the year. By becoming a friend, you will help to ensure that St Thomas’ Church remains a source of beauty, comfort and peace for future generations.
Please join us as a Friend
Rectors and Bishops
“Not dead, Ma’am, but buried at Stanhope.”
Weardale was used as a hunting ground for the Bishops of Durham in early centuries – Eastgate and Westgate marked the boundaries. By the 15th Century, Weardale’s importance was due in the main to the exploitation of its mineral deposits – lead mining produced large incomes for the rectors of Stanhope, which made it a desirable living.
Henry Phillpotts (Rector 1817-30) tried to retain the Stanhope benefice when he was made Bishop of Exeter – perhaps understandable with 18 children to support.
Cuthbert Tunstall (Rector 1508-20) was later Bishop of Durham through the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. He was an intimate friend of Erasmus and Sir Thomas Moore.
Joseph Butler (Rector 1725-40), was a philosopher whose book ‘An Analogy of Religion’ remained essential reading for clergy for the next 200 years. At the time Stanhope, along with most of the North of England, was regarded as wild and inaccessible.
Queen Caroline thought Butler must be dead but was reassured, “Not dead, Ma’am, but buried at Stanhope.” He later became Bishop of Bristol and briefly of Durham.
An Active Church
Regular worship remains the heart of the church’s presence in the town. Those who come for baptisms, weddings, funerals or school services join this continuous stream of prayer.
The recent addition of the servery and toilet facilities has made the church an ideal setting for concerts and performances of all kinds, including a memorable production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ using the church and churchyard. The well-appointed church hall is in constant use for the Mothers and Toddlers Group, art groups, the Youth Club and many other activities, now including a monthly Farmers’ Market.
Following the success of the Flower Festival in summer 2016, involving many local businesses and people, a Family History Week in 2017 brings experts to help to trace Weardale families. The Friends aim to initiate and support events which benefit the local community and incidentally raise funds to help to preserve the church.
ADDRESS
St Thomas The Apostle Stanhope Church
Stanhope Market Place
Weardale
DL13 2UP
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We look forward to welcoming you to our Church (we can accommodate wheelchair bound visitors by laying portable ramps to allow access up the church steps)