Inside Out Church

STONE LAYING CEREMONY
THIS AFTERNOON - 5th May 1930

A remarkable feat of church building was demonstrated this afternoon, when the foundation stone was laid at St. Andrew's Church, Blackhall. The church which has already reached the height of the side aisles, has been transported piecemeal by motor lorry from Stockton, a distance of 16 miles. The remainder of the material is on the site, and rapid progress is being made with the re-erection.
By this boldly conceived scheme an edifice which would have cost £10,000 or £11,000 is being provided for about £6,000. How this exceptional project was brought about was told to a Northern Daily Mail representative by the Rev. John Heap, incumbent of Blackhall. "This church which you see arising," said Mr Heap to the Daily Mail reporter. "was formally at St. Paul's Church, Stockton. A few years ago the Bishop appointed a commission and certain rural boundaries in Stockton were re-arranged. A new church was to be built on a fresh site for St. Paul's parish and this is old St. Paul's. It came to my notice and I went to see it. We wanted a new church and we called our parochial council together and they went to see it. We thought if we could get it to Blackhall it would suit us very well, and so we got in touch with the Ecclesiastical Commissioners with the view to purchase , and eventually we bought it for £300."

Conveyed By Lorries

The old church which was about 40 years old, was carefully taken down. * New plans were prepared by Mr H D Pritchard of Darlington, and son of the original architect. The bricks and the stones were brought here by motor lorries, and the present building is being put up by Messrs J and W Lowery of Newcastle, who built the Holy Trinity Church, Jesmond.
Nearly five hundred tons of material have been carried from Stockton. Loading commenced at the beginning of February, and at the rate of 3 lorries per day, of three tons each, the bricks and stones were on the new site in about two months. Re-building operations commenced at the end of February.
Towards the cost of the sum £4,300 is in hand, of which the parish has raised £1,600 by consistent effort and the remainder includes grants from the church and other societies. It is hoped that the opening ceremony will take place in November.
The church will accommodate 400 persons. The site is Park Crescent, adjoining the existing vicarage.

Collier Companys Gifts

The new building is to supersede a corrugated iron structure and is to meet the needs of the rapidly developing Blackhall Colliery District. Blackhall was sunk by the Horden Collieries Ltd., and commenced to draw coal in 1913. The present corrugated iron church was built by the Horden Company in the early days of the colliery and has been twice enlarged. It is now totally inadequate for the needs of the parish. It is to be retained as a parish hall and Sunday School.
The Horden Collieries have kindly provided the site for the new church and have helped financially in a substantial manner. The church will have a nave and chancel and two side aisles, vestries for clergy and choir, and organ chamber. The chancel and vestries are being extended beyond their original size.
Blackhall is a new ecclesiastical district formed out of the old parish of St. Mary, Monkhesleden. St. Mary's Church, which dates back to the 14th century, is about two miles from Blackhall. When the new church was consecrated Blackhall will be constituted a separate parish. The population is about 6,500. The Rev. John Heap, the incumbent, came to Blackhall in 1925 from Holy Trinity, Gateshead.

Service In The Church

The Foundation Stone this afternoon was laid by Ald. W. F. Whitwell of Yarm, Managing Director of the Horden Collieries Ltd. A service was first held in the old church, at which an address was given by the Bishop of Durham. There was a crowded congregation. Following the service a procession was formed to the site. Those taking part included the clergy and laity, church officials, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Sunday School scholars and other bodies.
Ald. Whitwell was presented with a Silver Trowel, the gift of the architect. After a dedicatory prayer by the Bishop, Ald. Whitwell declared the foundation stone well and truly laid, and on the motion of Mr T Lawther, the vicar's warden, seconded by Mr J Ingram, he was thanked for his services.
Tea was served in the Co-operative Hall.

(Northern Daily Mail, Hartlepool)

(*St. Paul's Church stood near Stockton railway station and over the years the exterior had become very sooty and grimy, so on rebuilding at Blackhall to save the cost of cleaning the stone and brickwork it was decided to build materials 'inside/out'.)

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