St.Cuthberts Roman Catholic Church on Yarm Road at the corner of Spring Street. Two churches have stood on this site. The first was officially opened on 25th November, 1920 by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle the Rt.Rev.Richard Collins; demolished in November 1956. The present church was officially dedicated on 2nd July 1958 by the Rt.Rev.Bishop James Cunningham of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, and opened for worship on 8th July, 1958. c1985 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
My father and mother were married in the church of St Cuthberts in 1948 by Patrick J McKenna [Catholic Priest].
Just found this site, and have lots of memories, I went to St Cuthberts School from 1950-1960, St Cuthberts Church was a very big part of our lives, I remember father Duffy dying, and all the children at school having to file past his coffin to pay our respects. I was 12 I think, it was the first experience of death I had. Can anyone else remember his passing? I’m not sure of the year. Mary Brown nee Nevens
Hi Mary do you have a brother called Jonn Nevens? I’m on ancestry and the Nevens family came up on my tree.
In reply to John Dymond, who asked on 03/11/2009 about the site of St. Cuthbert’s church before 1920, the Victoria County History states that: ‘At the south end of the town a school chapel, St. Cuthbert’s, was opened in 1884.’ St. Cuthbert’s School (‘Boys Girls & Infants’) is shown on maps of the time and later on the west side of what is now St. Cuthbert’s Road, about halfway down, exactly opposite the end of Gladstone Street.
Derek Atkinson’s hairdresser shop was on the corner of Corporation Street & Mill Street West.
Ray Duncan & John Davidson were just a couple of gents hairstylist on the Stockton scene before Derek Atkinson started.
I had my first haircut at ‘Lenny’s’, he had a sort of board that would sit over the arms of the chair and you were plonked on it. My father stood next to me as I was very nervous and Lenny broke me in as it were. My father only ever had his hair cut there, even when David Fieldhouse took over. Yes, you are right Alastair, as modern cuts became popular Lenny stayed with what he knew best and the teenagers flocked to the new generation of hairdressers like Derek. The Tony Curtis cut was always popular. Yes Derek was all as you described him to be and we were great pals for many years.
Sharon Finlay, yes I remember Mac & Geoff Flintoff, we all lived in Commondale Av and yes, just like you, after the ‘Oak’ the debate was Tito’s or The Fiesta, some nights we did both! (Members free nights)
Having had my hair cut by Len Robinson in Oxbridge from an early age in his “short back and sides style” it was great to find Dereck Atkinson offering modern cuts. I took my custom to his shop in Leeds Street when he opened it and remained a customer until he emigrated. That must have been in about 1967 and I used his departure as an excuse for not getting my hair cut for quite a few years. He was a great hairdresser, stylist and conversationalist, possibly the first in Stockton to offer mens’ styling.
Yes Jackie I did go into the Royal Oak but I think a little later in time when we would all go to the Fiesta or Titos after the Oak.
I married John Finlay if you remember him.
My friend married Geoff Flintoff, Mac’s brother.
Once again Anon – you are correct!! The Macleans lived at no 28 in those days.
Ref Derek Atkinson, yes he was a hairdresser having served his apprenticeship at Len Robinson’s in Oxbridge. He then went on to open his own shop, off the beaten track a bit, around Leeds St area. He eventually handed the business over to a mutual friend Tony Oughton/Auton? as he was to become a ten pound POM and he has lived in Australia ever since.
His sister Jackie was a regular at the Maison and we would all end up at 14 Westerdale Ave to continue ‘bopping’.
Hilda Thrower you refer to was a larger than life character and would often be in the Atkinson’s which was usually a hub of activity with Derek & Jackies friends. Happy days.
Derick Atkinson was a hairdresser & he had a sister called Jackie, when they lived at Newham Grange some their neighbours were Throwers, McCleans, Sharps & James.
Derick Atkinson is now living in Adelaide, I spoke to him a few weeks ago, jackie , you used to work for BA, I met you in the late 60s in Melbourne.
Anon… Yes that’s me and sad to say I no longer have my sister Kathleen as she lost her long brave fight against cancer, her husband Terry predeceased her.
As for The Royal Oak, I was one of the crowd you mention and in particular Derek Atkinson.
Friday night was always the big night out and only the earlybirds got a seat. Derek’s parent,s along with two sets of neighbours, were always there on Fridays so quite a get together.
At closing time our group would usually end up at the Chinese restaurant on Yarm Lane (curried chicken leg with chips) and then the long walk back to Newham Grange ending up in Derek’s house and loading his Dansette record player up with 45’s.
Some of the group were Mike Scott, Kevin McWilliams, Mike Congdon, Mac Flintoff, Dave Creasy and numerous others, so were you one of them I wonder?
Jack Stevenson, did you used to go in the
Royal Oak in the 60’s with Derek Atkinson, Mac
Flintoff and many others?
Do you have a sister Kathleen?
Searching for details of my family. Kennedy’s, Paul or Eugene, Peter, Margaret. Mothers maiden name Kernan. Or anyone know the Tierneys/ circa 1945-1963, Maureen Brimer?
I can recall the day when the large cross was placed on the altar wall.
My Grandad was the mason/bricklayer who made the cross and when it was mounted on the altar wall I was present with my brother, mum and dad.
From what I can remember the outside of the church was finished but inside was still a building site.
After the cross was blessed, not sure who did the blessing, my grandad showed my brother and I his carved initials ‘ECA’ Ernest Clifford Alexander on the back of the cross.
He said to us ‘look boys because I doubt that you will ever see them again’.
I am not a Roman Catholic but I do have a great deal of feeling for this church, every time I pass the church I remember that day and the pride on my grandads face.
Yes, Jack Stevenson and can you recall how Father Duffy was a great devotee of Gilbert and Sullivan and with his support the Parish put on annual very successful productions? I can remember HMS Pinafore and Pirates of Penzance. Father Mckenna was a lovely Irish man; he took my brother in law through the ‘six week course’ before he married my elder sister Kathleen and some years later it was Father McDermott who officiated at my own wedding.
Jim McCurley’s recollection of Father McDermott at St Cuthberts church reminded me of the other two priests running the parish, Father Duffy was the Parish Priest and the other curate was father McKenna.
One of them baptised me but don’t know which one – I slept through it all!
Sorry Jim was rejected as an alter boy, maybe St Bedes was a bit more lax as I made it to chief alter boy there. I think Jim did ok in life despite this terrible knock back at such a vunerable age!
The notes above say that the first St Cuthbert’s was officially opened in 1920. But the death notice of my wife’s grandfather from the North-Eastern Daily Gazette for Tuesday Oct 24th 1911 states that his requiem would be held at St Cuthbert’s Church, Parkfield, Stockton.
Is the date of 1920 wrong? Or was there an earlier St Cuthbert’s church, and if so, does anybody know where it was?
I can remember the old church; it was where I was baptised and made my first communion. My sister Kathleen was married there. I seem to recall that it was pebble dashed with dark green paintwork and had a corrugated iron roof over the porch. It was a much loved building, always had a lingering smell of incence. Yes, we used Lealholme while the “new” church was being built. I was married in the new one in September 1960 and Father McDermott came to greet me as I came into Church to tell me not to worry too much about the altar flowers – apparently the lilies weren”t quite open but I really didn”t care too much, nothing could have spoiled the day. I have to agree with my brother Kevin that it isn”t the most attractive church in the diocese, always looked like the facade was trying to compete with the imposing one on the opposite side of the road. Does anyone have a picture of the old St Cuthbert”s?
I can remember going to the old church then to Lealholme whilst the new one was being built. We all used to squash into Lealholme for what seemed like a long time. I too, was married in the new church in 1969. I am now in St. Joseph”s parish Norton but more often than not still go to St. Cuthbert”s and was actually there for the Easter Vigil. There have been many priests over the years.
When the old church was knocked down and the new one was being built all services were held at Lealholme, including mass, wedding, funeral services etc. My sister Joan was married at the new church in October 1962 and her reception was held at Lealholme. I once went to the priests” residence at the back of the church to volunteer my services as an altar boy and Father McDermott turned me down. Obviously he knew something I didn”t (at the time).
I too was married in this church, as was my sister Margaret who also contributes to this site. I”m sure that a lot of people on the site either attended or have been here for one occasion or another. Angela I don”t wish to offend but I never thought of it as a lovely church. I always thought it was too modern looking when it was built but I cant remember any more what the old one looked like. Another thought… I cant remember where everyone went while it was being built??
I was married in this lovely church in july 1962. my mother and father were also married in st cuthberts old church in june 1938.it”s the 50th ann this year. nice to see it in your collection