Catalogue

Register of baptisms, 24 November 1869 - 30 October 1994

Register of baptisms, 14 May 1995 - 25 February 2008

Register of marriages, December 1869 - December 1948

Register of marriages, April 1949 - September 1956

Register of marriages, July 1957 - October 1967

Register of marriages, 14 October 1967 - 4 October 1980

Register of marriages, 6 June 1981 - 19 August 2006 (1 volume, cloth bound)

Register of banns, 1885 - 1927

Banns of marriage counterfoils, 7 July 1957 - n.d. [1996]

Register of banns of marriage, 6 March 1966 - 9 September 2007

Register of burials, December 1870 - February 1959

Register of deaths, 20 November 1995 - 16 January 2008

Register of confirmations, 12 May 1958 - 15 March 1990

Registers of services, 1917 - 1973

Registers of services, 1910 - 1973

Register of services, 20 December 1973 - 1 January 1984

Register of services, 1 January 1984 - 13 November 1991

Register of services, 13 November 1991 - 19 July 2001 (1 volume, plastic bound)

Register of services, 22 July 2001 - 27 January 2008

Correspondence between the Diocesan Office, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland and B.M. Browbank, 5 School Street, Howden-le-Wear, concerning the proposal that the parishes of Firtree and Witton-le-Wear be held in plurality, 27 October 1975 - 18 March 1976

Copy pastoral order that the benefices of Firtree and Witton-le-Wear be held in plurality, 10 September 1976, and list of conditions under which the benefices shall be held in plurality, n.d. [September 1976]

Correspondence between the Secretary of the Parochial Church Council, 16 Church Street, Howden-le-Wear; the Archdeacon of Auckland, 15 The College, Durham; Durham Diocesan Board of Finance, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland; Frank Goulden, Highways, Jobs Hill, Crook; and the Diocesan Registry, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland; concerning the ill-health of Rev. H. Taylor and the subsequent suspension of the presentation to the benefice by the Bishop of Durham, 19 October 1990 - 6 November 1992

Correspondence between the Secretary of the Parochial Church Council, 16 Church Street, Howden-le-Wear; the Archdeacon of Auckland, 15 The College, Durham; Durham Diocesan Board of Finance, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland; the Crown Ecclesiastical Office, 10 Downing Street, London; the Church Commissioners, 1 Millbank, London; and the Diocesan Registry, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland; concerning the dissolution of the united benefice of Fir Tree and Witton-le-Wear and the creation of a single parish of Hunwick and Fir Tree, 10 March 1993 - 21 July 1995

Order in Council creating the new benefices of Fir Tree, Howden-le-Wear and Hunwick, and Hamsterley and Witton-le-Wear, 28 June 1995 Includes: map of new parishes, 1995

Certificate that the Rev. Thomas Swinney has made the declaration of assent and declaration against simony, taken the oath of allegiance and the oath of canonical obedience to the bishop of Durham, 9 January 1977

Mandate for the induction of Thomas Swinney into the benefice of Firtree, 9 January 1977

Collation of Rev. Thomas Swinney to the benefice of Firtree, 9 January 1977

Correspondence between Rev. P.G.M. Dennis, Howden-le-Wear Vicarage, Bishop Auckland; J.D. Heron, Holly House, Howden-le-Wear; and the Bishop of Durham, Auckland Castle, concerning Mr. Dennis's leaving Fir Tree and going to Craghead, 13 April and 1 May 1944 Originally enclosed in EP/Fi 49

Order-of-service for the collation of the Rev. Matthew Richardson to the vicarage of Fir Tree and his induction, 5 September 1944

Full-length portrait of one of the vicars of Firtree, St Mary, possibly Harold Clarke, standing outside the church porch, taken by S. E. Taylor, Bishop Auckland, n.d. [1960s]

Correspondence between Rev. H. Taylor; Frank Goulden, Highways, Jobs Hill, Crook; the Archdeacon of Durham, 15 The College, Durham; concerning problems in the parish of Firtree, 17 October - 30 November 1988

DVD recording the mass of thanksgiving for 138 years of faith, at St Mary' s church, 27 January 2008

Photograph, taken through the railings, showing the exterior of the church and the churchyard, c.2000

Photograph, taken through the railings, showing the exterior of the church and churchyard, c.2000

Photograph showing the entrance in the porch and the path to the entrance, c.2000

Photograph of the interior of the church of Howden-le-Wear, St. Mary, showing the radiators, c.2000

Congregation seated in their regular pews in the church, 20 January 2008

Congregation standing in a group at the north side of the nave, 20 January 2008

Cutting from the Northern Echo of an article about the closure of St Mary's church, 2 February 2008

Correspondence between the Durham Diocesan Board of Finance, Diocesan Office, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland; Mr. J. Carter, Rosedene, 25 North Close, Kirk Merrington; General Register Office, Smedley Hydro, Trafalgar Road, Southport, Lancashire; Durham Diocesan Registry, 56 North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland; Mr. J. Straughan, 14 Eden Close, Heighington; Father Stewart Irwin, The Vicarage, Hunwick; Mr. D. Charlton, 1A Vicarage Close, Howden le Wear; Rev. W.E. Braviner, St. Peter's House, York Avenue, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear; Rev. M.G.T. Gobbett, The Rectory, 2 Durham Road, Sedgefield; Mr. A. Whitwell, 98 Heathway, Parkside, Seaham; Rev. Canon T.J. Ollier, The Rectory, 10 Butts Lane, Egglescliffe; Rev. P.K. Lee, St. Peter's Vicarage, 39 Etherley Lane, Bishop Auckland; Mrs. B.C. Clark, Land House, Lanchester; Rev. V.T. Fenton, The Rectory, 14 Hartside Close, Crook; Church Commissioners, Church House, Great Smith Street, London; Ven. N.J.W. Barker, Holy Trinity Vicarage, 45 Milbank Road, Darlington; Joyce Gibson, 16 Church Street, Howden le Wear; Mrs. S. Urwin, 82 Oakfield, Hunwick; Smith Roddam, 56 North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland; Mr. C. Gilhespy, Gray's Rural Property Services Ltd., Swallow Cottage, Hamsterley; John Niven Architects, The Old Hall Practice, The Old Hall, West Auckland; Sneddon & Richardson Ltd., Electrical Installations, 57B Front Street, Pity Me; Rev. P. Greenhalgh, The Rectory, 48 Front Street, Stanhope and Barbara Browback and Laura Goulden, 21 Dawson Street, Crook, concerning the maintenance of St. Mary's church, its closure and the disposal of the contents to other churches in the region, 27 June 2002 - 25 April 2008

Report to the Durham Diocesan Pastoral Committee and the Council for the Care of Churches about the church of Howden le Wear, St. Mary the Virgin (formerly known as Fir Tree, St. Mary,) by the Durham Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches, 1 December 2006

Letter from Goldun (Builders), Ltd., Railway Street, Howden-le-Wear, Crook, to B.M. Browbank, School Street, Howden-le-Wear, disputing the addressee's view of proceedings concerning repairs to the church, 12 December 1970

Correspondence between B.M. Browbank, 5 School Street, Howden-le-Wear; the Ecclesiastical Insurance Office, Ltd., Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester; W.W. Building & Joinery Services, 3 Harperly Terrace, Firtree, Crook; Diocesan Office, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland; concerning repairs to the church, 2 February 1978 - 19 December 1989

Report on the church of Howden-le-Wear, St. Mary the Virgin, by Wear Valley Disability Access Forum, c.2000

Correspondence between the Department of the Environment, 2 Marsham Street, London; the vicar of Witton-le-Wear, the Vicarage, Witton-le-Wear; the Secretary of the Parochial Church Council, 16, Church Street, Howden-le-Wear; and Wear Valley District Council, Civic Centre, Crook; concerning the closure of the churchyard and its maintenance by Wear Valley District Council, 27 January 1976 - 15 September 1976 and 29 July 1988 - 12 June 1989

Photograph of the entrance to the churchyard, c.2000

Correspondence between Wear Valley District Council, Environmental Services Department, The Elms, Market Place, Bishop Auckland; J. Gibson, Secretary to the Firtree Parochial Church Council, 16 Church Street, Howden-le-Wear; and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire; concerning the addition of names to the Howden-le-Wear war memorial, 16 February 1988 - 20 November 1990 (11 papers; 6 typescript)

Schedule of trees in St Mary' s churchyard, detailing species, age, height and spread; condition and maintenance action required, together with location plans of the churchyard and the individual trees within it, 7 February 1996 - 2002

Wear Valley District Council (Land adjacent to Railway Street, Howden le Wear, Crook) Tree Preservation Order, 2008

Correspondence between B.M. Browbank, 21 Dawson Street, Crook; Wear Valley Community Aid, Oakenshaw, Crook; Miss J. Gibson, 16 Church Street, Howden-le-Wear; The Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches, Diocesan Office, Bishop Auckland; concerning the repair of the church hall, 7 October 1985 - 16 January 1990

Correspondence between Broadley and Coulson, chartered surveyors, 1 Wesley Street, Crook, and the Secretary of the Parochial Church Council, 16 Church Street, Howden-le-Wear, concerning the flooding of the church hall, 30 June 1992 - 13 January 1993

Sale particulars for Firtree Vicarage, Hargill Road, Howden-le-Wear; sale to be held on 28 March 1974

Correspondence between the Diocesan Office, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland; B.M. Browbank, 5 School Street, Howden-le-Wear; Rev. T. Swinney, The Vicarage, Witton-le-Wear; concerning the sale of Firtree old vicarage and subsequent difficulties, 21 March 1975 - 8 March 1978

Correspondence between Wear Valley District Council, Civic Centre, Crook; Rev. H. Taylor, Firtree Vicarage, Howden-le-Wear, Crook; Diocesan Office, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland; T. Gibson, 16 Church Street, Howden-le-Wear, Crook; concerning proposed development on land belonging to the former vicarage, 6 October - 6 December 1989

Letter from the Diocesan Board of Finance, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, to the Secretary of the Parochial Church Council, 16 Church Street, Howden-le-Wear, enclosing a letter from Smiths Gore, chartered surveyors, 26 Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, concerning the right of access to the vicarage, 21 October 1992

Terrier and inventory, 15 May 2003

Faculty for the installation of a roll of honour on the south wall of the church, 22 May 1931 [No list of names is given]

Faculty for the installation of a new heating system in the church, 13 June 1994

Faculty for the demolition of the church hall and the grassing over of the site, 15 June 1994

Archdeacon's certificate for works in the church and churchyard, 25 May 1973

Archdeacon's certificate for works in the church or churchyard, 19 December 1991

Archdeacon' s certificate authorising general maintenance works, 6 March 1990

Quinquennial inspection report on St Mary' s church, by Christopher Padgett, architect, 1 The Old School, Billy Row, November 1989

Quinquennial inspection report on St Mary' s church by Niven & Niven Architects, The Old Hall, 57 Front Street, West Auckland, December 1997

Quinquennial inspection report on St Mary' s church by John Niven Architects, The Old Hall, 57 Front Street, West Auckland, April 2002

Articles of enquiry at the visit to the parish of Ven Ian Jagger, Archdeacon of Auckland on 15 May 2003, with covering letter to the churchwardens, 19 May 2003

Vestry meetings minute book, 19 November 1869 - 18 May 1944

Parochial Church Council meetings minute book, 2 July 1956 - 17 November 1971 Includes: minutes of annual vestry meetings and annual parochial meetings, 29 April 1957 - 20 January 1971

Parochial Church Council meetings minutes, 19 January 1972 - 30 November 1989 Includes: minutes of annual parochial meetings, 15 March 1972 - 5 February 1989 Attached: Copy notice of the registration of the patron of the living of Firtree and Witton-le-Wear, 4 January 1989 and copy citation for the introduction of a brass crucifix in the church, 11 July 1989

Parochial Church Council meetings minute book, 21 July 1930 - 9 October 1945 Includes: annual parish meetings minutes, 20 April 1922 - 24 April 1930

Minutes of the Parochial Church Council, 4 January 1990 - 9 July 1995 Includes: minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, 11 February 1990 - 4 February 1997

Bank pass book, in the name of St. Mary's church, Firtree, with the National Provincial Bank, Ltd., Crook, 4 May 1937 - 30 June 1944

Parochial Church Council account book, 19 June 1968 - 25 December 1983

Parochial Church Council accounts, 1 January 1984 - 26 December 1993 Attached: balance sheet, 1983

Parochial Church Council account book, 2 January 1986 - 29 December 1991

Balance sheets, 1984 - 1991

Return of income and expenditure and church membership, 7 May 1989

Parish accounts, January - December 1994

Balance sheet for sale of work and garden fete, 13 July 1927 Originally enclosed in EP/Fi 48

List of contributions to the diocesan fund made by, and details of grants received by, the parish of Fir Tree, 1917 - 1942 Originally enclosed in EP/Fi 48

Correspondence between Sister Gabrielle Devreese, 22 Milford Gardens, Lobley Hill, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear; Robert Cooper, 59 Western Hill, Durham; Rev. C. Collins, St. Aidan's Vicarage, Ryhope Road, Sunderland; Sister Olympia, Minsteracres Retreat Centre, Consett; Joyce Gibson, Hon. Secretary of Firtree Parochial Church Council; concerning parish missions, parish retreats and creativity booklets, 24 September 1987 - 4 January 1989

Letters from Peter Grafton, 4 Highfield Gardens, Howden-le-Wear, to B.M. Browbank, concerning an accident to his clothes at a funeral, 19 September - 2 October 1987

Electoral roll, with applications, 1946 - 1954

Electoral roll of Fir Tree, St. John [sic], 1927 - 1928 Originally enclosed in EP/Fi 55

Correspondence between the Diocesan Director of Education, Hallgarth House, Hallgarth Street, Durham; Rev. T.K. Swinney, The Vicarage, Witton-le-Wear; the Secretary's Department, Wear Valley District Council, New Road, Crook; J.A. Close & Son, 44 Hope Street, Crook; Diocesan Office, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland; The Hon. Secretary, Firtree Parochial Church Council; concerning the sale of the church school at Firtree, 25 February 1975 - 28 February 1976

Copy statutory instrument allowing the sale of a number of church schools, including that at Firtree, and the use of the proceeds by the Durham Diocesan Board of Education, 18 November 1975

Sunday school attendance register, 1917 - 1919

Parish magazines, January - December 1911

Parish magazines, January - December 1912

Parish magazines, January - December 1913 (1 booklet)

Churchwardens, one of whom is Barbara Browbank, cutting a cake

Rev Henry Taylor and members of the congregation look on as the churchwardens prepare to cut the cake

Members of the congregation helping themselves to the buffet

Churchwardens preparing to cut the cake watched by five women members of the congregation

Statue of St Mary the Virgin in the church, with floral decoration at its feet

Altar with floral displays incorporating church vestments on either side

Floral display with a harvest festival theme, incorporating green and gold vestments

Floral display incorporating red vestments and flowers

Font with floral display incorporating white vestments and flowers

Statue of St Mary the Virgin with floral display incorporating purple vestments

Multicoloured vestments beside a floral display on a wooden stand

Dedications and inscriptions within the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Howden le Wear (formerly known as Fir Tree, St. Mary,) by Andrew D. Fletcher, May 2007

St Mary' s Church, Howden le Wear, 1869- 2008 , by the Howden le Wear Local History Society, 2008