This poignant photograph shows English Martyrs Church in Hardwick being demolished in February 2010. Courtesy of Roy Parkin. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
This poignant photograph shows English Martyrs Church in Hardwick being demolished in February 2010. Courtesy of Roy Parkin.
Photographs of English Martyrs RC church please
I cannot believe this beautiful church has been demolished. I have not been to Stockton for over thirteen years and this news is a shock. I have so many good memories of the church and of father John Mccormack.
We lived in Waskerley Close, just behind the Church. Fr McCormack was the one that did my Christening, First Communion, and I think confirmation? I remember when he left to go to Billingham, and Fr Martin came in, wasn’t sure what to make of him, but he turned out ok.
Incidentally, I was one of the ones that were involved with the start of the Church Newsletter. We won the diocese award for it, and I remain the only person in the history of the newsletter to get hate mail, for my review of Bros on the back page, during the 80s!!
I you look at the posts on this site from 2005 you’ll see the comments regarding the demolition of English Martyrs Church. Are you sure this was the church you were at? By 2007 English Martyrs was just a rubble strewn space, same as today.
Google Earth still has English Martyrs standing in 2008 and I also found mention that the last mass was said in July 2008, with demolition in February 2010.
Caption with coloured photograph appears to suggest English Martyrs, Hardwick was demolished in 2010.
Demolition actually took place in 2005.
I must have went to a funeral there on the grass in 2007 then.
Linda – Ha ha! Yes you were one of the two teenage bridesmaids and I was one of the younger ones with my other cousin Mandy Healy, I was 8. Graham Wright was pageboy. Wish I could remember more about the day though. Where was the reception held?
Judith I remember you, and also when your dad died. You were so bright and had a mass of hair like crystal tips and Alastair love ya from Karen Shaw.
Catherine – yes I did live next door to you and I’ve got that photo too!
My Dad used to call you carrot top, do you remember?
I was a bridesmade at The wedding of Carole Vettas to John Tunney – I was 17 at the time.
Many happy memories… A big part of my life spent with wonderful people. Judith Vettas think you lived next door to me in Piperknowle Rd, I have a photo of your birthday with myself and Carol Hamilton from 108. Happy Days!
Hi Catherine I lived next door to Carol Hamilton. Ian and Neil, their Mum was called Lilly if I remember. We lived in 110 Piper Knowle.
Phil, that first wedding you were alter boy for with Father Mcgivern was mine and Pauline Mckenzie -still together after 46yrs as stated earlier on the site.
I remember father McGivern well and I also remember being an alter boy on his first wedding, he took over from father Bennet who was ill. He went to a parish in Northumberland. Sad days to see this happening to both school and church.
Makes me very sad to see this picture. This church had a huge influence on my family. I was christened there, had my first confession and communion there. It’s a sad reflection on the church that we can’t find the money to keep places like this open on estates like Hardwick.
I lived opposite English Martyrs school and my neice was christened at the church, can’t understand them knocking a church down. As I’m in Newcastle-under-lyme haven’t been back for a couple of years, interested to know how much of Hardwick is left. John, are you the John Evans from Portrack with brother Mark?
It was a shame to see English Martyrs Church getting knocked down especially when it was nice inside and modern. I remember Father Jones one of the nicest people I’ve met, it was sad when he left. English Martyrs school closed, then Father Jones left, I believe it went downhill from that point.
I keep wondering this – why couldn’t St. Andrews have moved into English Martyrs as St. Andrews is an eyesore.
Bill, I still live on Hardwick and I’m catholic it’s weird how everything catholic has now gone.
Sadly, I heard recently that Fr. Thomas McCormack passed away in the spring of 2009. Originally from Sunderland, Fr. McCormack was parish priest at English Martyrs from c1965 to c1980 and in his retirement lived in a bungalow on Hardwick Estate. He was always a great supporter of the estate and the people living there.
May he rest in peace, I knew him when he was parish priest at St. John’s at Billingham.
He christened me in English martyrs church in 1983
Father Mccormack helped me over the years. Sadly missed.
So sad to see this church demolished, I made my first communion and was confirmed here, my sister was married here in 1967, her children were all christened here and my fathers funeral mass was held here in 1974, all presided over by Father McCormack a lovely parish priest, still enjoying his retirement I hope.
Judith, Do you remember Karen Shaw?
It broke my heart to see this magnificent Catholic Church demolished and also St James
Was this the church that had 2 pipe organs. 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs?
Fr Des McGivern was a young priest just newly ordained in 1964 and had to step in at English Martyrs due to the illness of Fr Bennett. The poor guy was really thrown in at the deep end. Eventually, some months after Fr Bennett’s death, Fr. Tom McCormack became parish priest and was there for many years. The last I heard Fr. McGivern was a parish priest at Alnwick in Northumberland.
I was married in English Martyrs church in October 1964 to Pauline Mckenzie, the priest that married us was Father Mgivern (spelling might be wrong). Our marriage was the first one he had done, poor man was a complete nervous wreck, worse than me, wonder where he is now – sure someone will let us know. Strange seeing catholic churches getting knocked down, are there no catholics left on Hardwick now?
Bit of a shock to see this photograph, though I had heard rumours that it was likely to happen. Church dedicated C1960 with Father Brian Bennett, d1964, as the first parish priest, followed by Father Tom McCormack. Many, many memories happy and sad of this church, weddings christenings, requiem masses and funerals.