St. Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton

25/08/2026

It's always lovely to call in at King's Court

21/08/2026

Later today (1.30pm) at Wear Valley Crematorium we will hold the funeral service of Mr Edward Oliver.
Edward will be known by many through his many years working at Glaxo.
He grew up in a medical family and, following school in York (where he excelled at sport) he had thought he was aiming for a career in dentistry. National service with the Royal Navy put paid to those plans and he returned, after demob, to work in Sunderland (at a paper mill), moving to the Teams Valley (working for the security printing form De La Rue) as Senior Industrial Engineer. He applied for his first post at Glaxo in 1971 just as his marriage to Carol was approaching. The couple moved into their family home in Mayfield in 1972 and went on to have three children: James, Elizabeth and Victoria.
By the time of his retirement in 1996 Edward had held any number of senior roles with the company: balancing his work with his love of rugby.
Edward did not enjoy the best of health in retirement. His doctors were amazed at his ability to bounce back from major surgery. Unable to obtain a new spine (!) Edward lived with considerable discomfort but his enjoyment of golf enabled him to keep moving and meet up with friends. At home Carol watched over him as his mobility became severely restricted.
He died, aged 87 at the end of July.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

20/08/2026

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19/08/2026

Members of St Mary's congregation have clubbed together to install a bench in the town cemetery. Mindful of just how important it is for those who have lost loved ones to be able to have a place to go to think, remember and pray they hope that others will feel able to spend time in the cemetery where so many folk we have known and loved have been laid.

The Vicar made the sign of the cross on the bench and prayed this prayer:

Almighty God, your steadfast love never ceases, your mercies never come to an end.
We bless you for the comfort, strength and support with which you sustain those who mourn.
Bless this bench which we offer to your service. May all who rest here, be embraced, held and comforted by your loving arms. Grant to all who mourn a sense of your undying presence. Renew our faith in Christ Jesus whom you raised from the dead and unite your people, living and departed, in your eternal praise.
We ask these things through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Spirit, one God, now and forevermore. Amen

16/08/2026

The church bells are ringing (half muffled) at Barnard Castle as a tribute to Ms Fiona Douglas whose funeral was held earlier this week. Fiona was a bell ringer in years past and a faithful members of the church.

13/08/2026

At 11.00am this morning we will commend Ms Fiona Douglas to God at a funeral service at St Mary's. Fiona was a much loved member of the congregation at St Mary's: a member of both the church and community choirs, someone who led intercessions in church and supported and prayed for the ministry here.
Beyond her church life she was known through her work in the local library and her particular concern for younger readers. She devoured books herself. She was a member of a book group, of the U3A and alongside her music and her reading enjoyed the company of friends.
She attended school in Barnard Castle following her father's death when she was a teenager. Her many friends have supported her at home through her final illness. She died of cancer, aged 67 on 16th July and she is survived by her sister Alethia.
Fiona will be buried alongside other family members at Wycliffe - one of the churches where her father served as Vicar.
She was a faithful Christian soul: may she rest in peace and rise in glory.
Fiona loved singing: here is a verse from one of our hymns today -

Enlighten with faith's light my heart,
inflame it with love's fire;
then shall I sing and take my part
with that celestial choir.
I shall, I fear, be dark and cold,
with all my fire and light;
yet when thou dost accept their gold,
Lord, treasure up my mite.

06/08/2026

This afternoon at 3pm family and friends will gather in a local crematorium for a small private funeral of Hazel Stephenson.
Hazel was born and grew up in Mickleton. In the 1970s she met Tony, went on to marry him and have five children together. The young family then moved to Barnard Castle. Hazel was very active and always busy, helping to raise funds for animal charities, assisting others with a range of tasks and jobs and having a busy social life. She loved reading and had a passion for history and storytelling, so at some point started to write books herself! As an author, she taught others how to start writing, gave talks at local groups and went to care homes gathering people’s stories. She was particularly interested in WWII.
As we say goodbye to Hazel, we look back on her life with gratitude and pray that she may now be in a place filled with nothing but love and peace beyond anything we can imagine. Amen.

02/08/2026

Every blessing for Taylor Walker who was brought for baptism earlier this afternoon. Here she is with her mum and dad, Rachel and Paddy, the rest of her family and her godparents.
Have a great day

01/08/2026

Congratulations to Amelia Smith and Jonathan Hann - Millie and Jonno - who were married at St Mary's this afternoon! We wish you lots of joy and happiness and many happy years together! ❤️