Pensioners outing from Christ Church Mission on Norton Road in Stockton. Photograph courtesy of Jeff Cooke 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Pensioners outing from Christ Church Mission on Norton Road in Stockton. Photograph courtesy of Jeff Cooke
I have enjoyed reading all your comments and travelling back down memory lane. I used to come to this church sometimes with my dad, Sam Bancroft, who like my mam, has now gone home to Glory. I miss them so much and reading this tonight has brought back some wonderful memories for me. I remember the Strike family and the camping holidays that we used to go on. Wonderful memories , great days. I remember when I was a small child that I thought everyone in the whole church was either called Strike or related in some way. What a lovely family.
How lovely to see this photograph. I am due to attend a funeral on Monday 12th September at the Mission for my uncle, who is married to Pastor Bill’s niece and has been for over 40 years. I have heard a lot about Christchurch Mission and Pastor Bill and what a lovely person he was,so lovely to hear it from people who attended the Mission years ago.
I HAVE GREAT MEMORIES ABOUT THE MISSION. WHEN WE WENT TO CAMP AT CROFT WE WENT ON THE BACK OF MARKS SKIN YARD WAGON. I REMEMBER COLIN CHAPMAN AND ALL HIS BROTHERS WHO LIVED IN WYNYARD STREET WHO ALSO WENT TO THE MISSION. I AM THE BROTHER OF JOE WEST.
Oh my goodness…I remember Joe West really well from camp. Such great memories.
My family attended St Michael’s church. We lived in Victoria Avenue. My Mum greatly admired Pastor Strike and used to call in to talk to him on the way back from church. I often went with her and remember him as a deeply compassionate and inspiring man. Christianity just shone out of him.
Craig and I were married by Bill Strike at the mission on Victoria Avenue in August 1990. All our seven children have been baptised here and we hope to have our 8th child baptised soon!
I too remember Christ Church Mission and in particular Syd and Wendy Strike, I think a lot of people would love to meet up with Wendy again. It was a great place to meet people.
I was married in this church in 1966 to Wendy Strike. It may have looked humble from outside but inside there was a great love for all, I have never forgotteen it. You can have your great cathedrals but you would never find a better place or people than stikes mission. Still married to Wendy and still very happy.
I am pleased this has re-surfaced. To respond to Derek Casey”s reply from last December; Derek, can you recall the interior of the building at the top of Ralway Street? My belief is that it was a depot built in the 1830″s by the Clarence Railway and there is evidence of this on old maps. Some years ago I had a look inside (by then it was used for a car repairs business)and there seemed to be a substantial wooden structure which could have been early coal drops. Does this make sense from your memories of the building?
Introduced to Christ Church Mission by my 2 brothers (Cliff and Norman)in 1946, where I met my late wife (Irene Fishburn) at Sunday School. Her mother is in the photograph along with Annie Pastor Bill Strike. Great memories are the Mission Pioneer Camps at Wolveston and Croft. Playing in the band in Open Air and Carol Playing. Great news now is that the band has reformed, with old members appearing once again, (Mark Harrison and myself, Billy Strike and Bryan Strike (good friends.) Will always remeber the good old days.
My mother was Jean Strike and my grandmother was call Dot Fishburn was she sister, I think she married George Strike
She used to have a whistle on a string when we were at camp and she was constantly having to blow it to keep my brother in check haha.
Well it was called Strikes mission and now all the founder Strikes have sadly passed away. Saying goodbye to the last sister tomorrow on 26th February 2008. There are nieces and nephews left but none of the original family. Have had great times and the mission and mission camps. Wish the good old days could be brought back.
we have just had out 75th Anniversary this weekend and it has been good, nice to see some of the old faces. Wish there could have been more but who knows what the future holds. So many people have posted on this site, although i do not remember that pictures as i am only 29 i do have fond memories of camp in the 90″s and growing up in the mission, if it was not for the mission who knows where we would all be today. looking back through the comments and remembering camp with all those people, Pator Strike and ashleigh and all the others, a lot sadly passed away and missed always but always remembered in our hearts.
I am the granddaughter of Sarah Lilian Peacock nee Strike who was the daughter of the founder of Christ Church Mission. When we showed her this wonderful picture it brought back lots of memories! She is almost positive that this is some sort of sisterhood meeting. She is the sixth woman from the right-hand side. Her older sister, Christiana Mary, is third from the left. Her mother, my great-grandmother, is fifth from the left. The first woman on the right is, she thinks, the speaker. My mother went to Syd Strikes Sunday school from Hardwick and remembers Jannette. It was such a surprise to see the Mission on this website. Thank you.
The mission shaped my life. Founded by my grandad in 1932 and pastored by William Edward Strike, one of 7 brothers and 3 sisters. To most of us William Edward was always Uncle Bill, Possibly one of the best role models who ever walked this earth. I owe so much to him. He taught me so much about the role of a pastor and how to help people through bereavement, conduct weddings and live a positive and gracious life. I have passed these skills on over the years at Ragworth Christian Fellowship. Thanks to Jannette and Irene for your comments
How lovely to see the comments and memories of the Strike family. Syd and Sue Strike have played a big part in lots of lives in Stockton-including mine. We still Worship on Ragworth.
Hi Frank glad to hear Cath is doing ok. Actually we were at each others weddings as after Richard Hind we both ended up working at Isaac Robson. We also used to walk down Norton Road to the baby clinic together. Tell her I was asking after her. All the best, Moira
Yes Moira, Cath is my sister. She married Keith Chapman and lives in Ingleby Barwick these days. We only just sold the Norton Road house now that our Mam has moved out.
iwas very nice to see this mission and their work ,i like the people and their way of dressing it was a cold place , yours shine thomas
To David Gibson, the building to the left of mission was top end of Downings Iron Foundry. I served my time as a moulder at the bottom end foundry ” railway st ” during the 60s the few men who worked in the building next to the mission were all Hungarians, realy nice lads, all the best Derek
To Bruce Towl. Not sure about the campsite, just remember all the gear travelling by lorry, I am related to Maurice, He is my uncle, youngest brother of my father also Raymond Lightowler.
Raymond Lightowler. Was the campsite at Binchester ? Are you related to the late Maurice Lightowler who lived in Norton Avenue?
Hi Frank I went to school with a Cath Bowron, at Richard Hind, was she your sister? I ask because that is the house she lived in. How is she doing?
I used to live in the house on Norton Road next to the church on the corner of Victoria Avenue. Tom and Audrey Strike lived a couple of doors away. Tom suffered from MS and they eventually moved away to a bungalow in Norton Village. Lovely people they were. Stockton folk really are the salt of the earth.
I have tried to recall for sometime the name of this place, I recall some fond memories from the late 50″s. The first time I wore my pioneers uniform. The camping trips that seemed to be at the other side of the world, Dinsdale springs to mind. To come across this site is fantastic. Ray Lightowler.
Hi Joe Lovely to see your comment on the site, just to let you know my thoughts and prayers will be with you on the 75th anniversary and also to let you know have not forgotten you or the rest of the congregation. God bless and lots of love Anne Hadley (nee Strike)
I attended the mission hut on Wednesday evenings during the late 1940s/early 1950s after which I moved from the area. I made a one off visit together with my sister in the early 1960s during the course of which I discovered that Pastor Strike was a trombone player in addition to his talented concertina skills with which I was already familiar. On the Wednesday meetings the music was usually provided by Dave Strike on the harmonium supplemented by Will Strike”s “squeezbox” …. and the singing was tremendous. Happy days !
The Mission was at the top of Railway Street which is to the left of the picture. My Grandparents (Lizzie and Charlie Doughty) lived at 5 Railway St., and when spending summer holidays with them early 1950,s I attended the Mission Sunday School. The building on the left, demolished in the last few years, has always interested me, as I believe it was originaly a Railway building (hence the Railway posters), and could have been an original Clarence Railway building from the evidence of old maps. The tunnel under the railway was built with the Norton Road underpass in 1873, replacing the earlier level crossing. The Railway was the Stockton (North Shore) branch of the Clarence Railway, from Norton Junction, opened 1833. Two of my summer holiday pals from Railway St. were John Meadows and Michael Kemp; are they out there?
How lovely to read the messages on here. Sid Strike came to Hardwick when I was a child and started a sunday school in our community centre, we used to go to Strikes mission if transport allowed. I remember Joe West coming to talk to us about his many trips, we would listen eagerly. I remember going to church camp a few times too, many wonderful memories are flooding thru my mind now :o) I sang all the wonderful songs we learned to my own babies who are now 15 and 18, doesn”t time fly. I even play the tambourine still! thank you Christine Strike for teaching me !! And thank you Sid and Sue for helping to make me the person I am today.
I can vaguely remember going to the mission as a small girl probably aged about five or six. We used to get little pictures of things from the bible – probably if you were good. My most vivid memory is going to a christmas party there. My mam knew Mr Strike – not sure if they lived in one of the houses on Norton Road which backed onto the back of Compton Street in Tilery.
Hello Joe West, nice to hear you are still connected with the Mission.You must have been there over 50 years now. Your Father would have been proud of you. Keep up the good work.
THAT PHOTO OF CHRIST CHURCH MISSION WAS TAKEN DURING A BRIAN WILLIAMS CRUSADE I HAVE JUST COME IN FROM ATTENDING A PRAYER MEETING AT THE MISSION WHICH IS NOW SITUATED IN VICTORIA AVE AND WE ARE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR IN MAY
Was the original mission started by Charles Strike in a street off Skinner st and then moved to premises above Dobsons glass merchants near West Row back in the 30s. I also understand that there is a church at Ragworth still run by one of the family.
Richard Hadley: The lady next to your gran (third left) the one with the child (my sister) is my gran Elsie May Stokel. I remember her telling me often of the church services . I”m so glad it brought back fond memories for you as it did for me. jeff cooke
Great to see a picture of this on here. The Church was indeed run by Pastor William Strike who was actually my Grandfather. The lady stood second from the left is my grandmother who sadly passed away recently. Lovely to see Christ Church Mission on here…
What memories this photo brings back. My gran Lily Alderson was a regular at the mission. My sister June and I went every Sunday and remember all the Strikes. Billy Strike was the Minister I believe there is a photo of my gran in the church in Victoria Road. Tried to contact the church on a visit 2 year ago but no luck. Hooked onto this site its fantastic
What memories I was a member of Strikes mission back in the late 50s I recall the trips to Redcar and the building in lord st where we would recieve our packed lunches for the day at the beach, Also who recalls the Pioneers. I recently had reason to visit North Tees Hospital where I met some of the Strikes family that I hadnt seen for over 40 years instantly recognisable.
The Christ Church Mission as above was on Norton Road. They moved from these premises (I don”t know the date) but they are now at the Church on the corner of Victoria Avenue/Norton Road, in Norton. It is still run by the Strikes.
I recall that tunnel , the engineering works between the tunnel and the Commercial, I beleive it was Downings ( they made drain-covers) had a L.N.E R notice-board on the path-side wall, with all the latest excursions leaflets and time-tables and was much used by folk , no phones in those days and it was a long walk to Stockton Station for those wishing train-times to Scarborough or the “Blackpool Illuminations” Anybody else remember ?
This building was on Norton road and as you can see was called the Christ church mission. I believe a man called Strikes used to preach there. It was about 1964. The building was right next to the bridge on Norton road it would be a few yards away from Bill Boyds. It used to be a tyre place a few years ago. There was a tunnel going under the old railway coming from Norton towards Stockton and they used to be a pub called the Commercial until recently. I hope this brings back memories it does for me.