Houghton-le-Spring St Michael

Parish Notes Durham

Houghton-le-Spring St Michael & All Angels

[Population 1911: 8,916 incl. 138 persons enumerated in the Houghton-le-Spring Union Workhouse]

Church

The Church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a large and handsome cruciform structure, with a low tower springing from the intersection of the nave and transepts, and stands in a spacious church-yard, finely shaded with avenues of lime-trees. A porch, now used as a vestry, projects from the chancel parallel with the south transept; the tower contains six bells; and there is a gallery at the west end. Several of the windows have recently been filled with stained glass, by the present rector, who has also made considerable changes in the sittings and interior arrangements. The tomb of Bernard Gilpin, the apostle of the north, stands in the south transept; and is a massy altar tomb of freestone, with some ornaments of chain work on the sides, and on the west end the arms of Gilpin in bas-relief; viz., a boar under a tree. On each side of the escutcheon in raised letters, we read: BERNARD GILPIN' RECTOR HUJUS ECCLESLÆ OBIIT QUARTO DIE MARTII AN. DOM. 1583. Besides this tomb, there are a number of others in the church, that bear names of some note; there are memorials to the family of Belasyse, of Major Thomas Lilburne, one of the builders of the almshouses; of the Conyers, Ironsides, Lambtons, Carrs, Blacketts, &c., all eminent names in the north. There were in former ages, two guilds instituted in this church; one dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and the other to the Blessed Virgin; there was also a chantry, dedicated to St. Catherine, of the yearly value of £3 15s. The parish register commences in 1563. The living is a rectory in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham, and valued in the Liber Regis at £124; gross income, £2,553. Rector, the Hon. and Rev. John Grey, M.A.: curates, Rev. Robert Kirkwood, Rev. Alfred John Blagdon, and Rev. George Snowden. [Whellan's History, Topography and Directory of Durham (and Newcastle) (1856), pages 625-26.]

Townships

Topography

History

The Parish Chest

Non-Parochial Records

Newcastle Courant 25/2/1826 [marriage] On the 20th inst. at Houghton-le-Spring, Mr George Pigg, corver, Hetton, to Miss Margaret Hay, of Rainton.

Berwick Advertiser 20/10/1827 [marriage] On the 15th inst., at Houghton-le-Spring, Thomas Simm, to Catherine Arthur, both of Easington Lane. The bride put off her clothes in a pew of the church, and the bridegroom put her shift over her head and she was married with no clothing on but her shift.

Newcastle Courant 2/3/1838 A few days ago a most excellent Tea was provided for the poor in the Workhouse at Houghton-le-Spring, and two pipes and one ounce of tobacco presented to each inmate; by a subscription of the ladies and gentlemen of that place.