Our History

HOW IT BEGAN

Fr. Marron acquired the current site from the developers in 1969 and oversaw the planning / design of the church with a total cost of £70,000 for the site, church and presbytery.

The Architect was David Brown, the Building Contractor, Charlton’s and work commenced on the building of the Church and St. Paul’s school in 1969.

On 30^th November 1969 the Parish Priest, Fr. Tom Cass, celebrated Mass for the first time in the new school.

Fr. Tom made an appeal on 19^th December to purchase a Missal Stand, Purificators, Candle Sticks etc. which resulted in £294 being raised. The Knights of St. Columba donated our original Processional Cross which has subsequently been replaced..

The S.V.P. Conference was formed at St. Paul’s on 15^th February 1970 but unfortunately has since ceased to function.

The building of the church was completed in July of 1970 but vandals broke into the church when it was ready to be opened, damaging the Holy Water Bowls but fortunately they were repaired prior to the Bishop arriving. Parishioners set to work cleaning the new building on 27^th July to enable it to be officially opened and blessed in the same evening by Bishop Hugh Lindsay with 120 priests and a congregation of 700 people present.

The sculpture, depicting the Conversion of St. Paul, above the entrance was unveiled and blessed by Fr. John Bell on 15th November 1970.

The Pascal Candle Stand and four Candle Stands were all made by one of our own parishioners whilst our Stations of the Cross were donated by A. O. Andrew (Dublin), the Contractor for Drainage / Road Construction in the New Town.

The first person baptised in the church was Helen McGrath on 2^nd August 1970. She was baptised by Fr. Creech, a Redemptorist Priest, standing in for Fr. Tom whilst he was away in Lourdes. Prior to Helen’s Baptism, 12 Baptisms were carried out within the School.

On 11^th August 1970 a Sponsored Walk from Cramlington to Blyth and back took place to raise money to purchase an Organ for the church. £150 was raised.

The first Parish Autumn Fayre was held in St. Paul’s School Hall on 21^st October 1970.

A Parish Mission lasting two weeks began on 22^nd November 1970.

In January 1971 an extensive campaign began to get the Planned Giving Envelope Scheme off the ground cumulating with a Parish Party. The first envelopes were received on 1^st February 1971.

The first Parish Wedding was on 20^th March 1971 with Fr. Tom Cass officiating.
Our Choir gave a Radio Easter Broadcast on 11^th April 1971 and this was the first of very many Concerts / Performances given by our Choir.
On 13^th June 1971 a group of children were the first to receive their First Holy Communion in the Parish.
On 19^th September 149 parishioners were Confirmed during a visit from Bishop James Cunningham.
Our first parishioner to be buried was Mary Armstrong, aged 89, the wife of James, with her Requiem Mass being celebrated on 23rd September 1971 by Fr. Tom Cass.

Our Red hymn books were purchased and the entire cost met by parishioners paying £5.00 for a dedication in each book. Later, our own Green Hymn Book was produced by Bob Watson and Jim Grey which includes many hymns written and composed by them.

During July 2010 a new band, called 40 Years On, came together to perform as part of the parish’s 40 Year Celebration and their first concert was performed in church during November 2010 as part of the 40 Year Celebration programme.
The band consisted of Eddie M & Peter C- Rhythm Guitar, Pamela McG – Violin, Claire M – Flute, Claire L – Piano Keyboard, Andy B – Drums, Bill C – Bass Guitar, Les S, Ken A & Bob W – Lead Guitar & Vocals, Rachael S – Lead Vocalist and Bill C – Bodhran, Harmonica & Vocals. A CD was then recorded, mixed, mastered and became available for sale in September 2011. Copies are available from Bob W.      A further concert followed at the Benedictine Social Centre in September 2011 where £410 was raised in aid of the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Appeal.

Our first Centenarian parishioner was Margaret Martin who celebrated her 100th birthday on 2nd April 2011. She died in September 2012.

OUR PRIESTS.
Fr. Tom Cass 1969-1983 with Curates Fr. Paul McDermott 1972-1989 & Fr. Michael Sweeney 1975-1979
Fr. Eddie Gibbons 1984-1993 with Curates Fr. Paul Tully 1990-1991 & Fr. Peter Windram 1992-1993
Fr. Paul Southgate 1993-1999
Fr. John Skivington 1999-2006
Fr. Simon Lerche 2006 to 2014
Fr. Lee Barrett 2015 – April 2019
Monsignor Phil Carroll: Administrator April 2019 – September 2019
Fr. Paul Jenkins 1 Sep 2019 – 29th August 2021
Fr. Manoj Punchakunnel SAC – 30 August 2021 to date with Curate Fr. Sebastian Thekkeyil SAC (Aug 2021 – Sept 2022) and Resident Priest Fr. Stanly.