Church
Approximate location / Grid Reference: NZ30222 54041
Google Maps: approximate location: 54.880202,-1.530404
St George's Church, Fatfield, was built by Mr George E. Forster of Washington on one acre of land donated by the Earl of Durham in 1877. The church was built at the charge of the Earl of Durham and was consecrated on June 26th, 1879. The first incumbent was the Rev William Samuel Reeman who held the post until 1934. Before Fatfield had its own church, services, baptisms, burials and marriages were normally held at St Mary & St. Cuthbert's Parish Church, Chester-le-Street and also at St John's Birtley.
Above: Site of Fatfield Church, 1857
Above: The same area today
CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH AT FATFIELD
The Newcastle Courant etc (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England), Friday, June 27, 1879; Issue 10669
On Monday, a new church, situated at Fatfield about a mile from Lambton Castle, in the County of Durham, was consecrated for Divine service by the Right Rev the Bishop of the Diocese. It is to serve as the parish church of a new ecclesiastical district taken partly from the parish of Birtley and partly from the parish of Washington; and is the gift of the Right Hon. the Earl of Durham. It will accommodate between three and four hundred people; and standing on a commanding position on the left bank of the Wear, a little to the west of Pensher Station, it is seen from a long distance round about. It is built in the perpendicular style of Gothic architecture and consists of a chancel, 31ft by 22ft; a nave, 68ft by 22ft; north aisle 26ft by 13ft; organ chamber and vestries for the clergy and choir. It is of red brick with dressings of freestone; and the roof is covered outside with green Westmorland slates. A bell turret rises on the north side from clustered buttresses and takes an octagonal form above. There is a slated spire, about 100ft in height. Externally, the main roof is unbroken from end to end and in consequence of the fall of the ground eastwards the height of the eastern gable is 52 feet. There is a handsome east window of five lights with tracery of appropriate design. Except the west, the other windows are square headed with very simple tracery. The principal entrance is by an open timber porch at the north-western angle. Internally, the roof is arched and divided into panels by wooden beams and ribs, with coloured bosses at the intersections. The walls are panelled with wood and the chancel is very handsomely fitted in a corresponding manner. Across the east end the panelling is about 11 feet high and over the altar the cornice is projected and surmounted by a gilded cresting. This part of the woodwork has been very beautifully painted by Mr Hicks, with flowers and scrolls bearing suitable inscriptions. Brass chandeliers have been designed specifically for the edifice. The sittings are open benches and all the internal woodwork is stained a pleasant dark greenish hue and varnished. There is a churchyard adjoining, surrounded by a brick wall. The architects are Messrs Austin, Johnson and Hicks of this town; and the church has been built by Mr George E. Foster, of Washington. The late Mr Henry Leighton, acted as clerk of the works. The Rev W.S. Reeman has been appointed the incumbent. The consecration took place yesterday morning at eleven o’clock; a large number of the clergy were present; and the congregation crowded the church. Amongst the Laity were the Right Hon. the Earl of Durham, Lady Beatrice Lambton and the Hon. Hedworth Lambton. The sermon was preached by the Bishop from the 57th chapter of Isaiah, the 15th verse:- “Thus saith the High and Lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with Him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit” – The offertory on the occasion was given to the Diocesan Church Building Society.
The London Gazette, August 1, 1879:.
We, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, acting in pursuance of the Act of the twenty-ninth and thirtieth years of Her Majesty, chapter one hundred and eleven, sections five and eleven, do hereby grant to the Incumbent of the new parish and vicarage of Fatfield, in the County of Durham, and in the diocese of Durham and to his successors, incumbents of the same new parish and vicarage, one yearly sum or stipend to be payable out of the common fund under our control, and to be calculated as from the twenty third day of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine, and to be receivable in equal half-yearly portions, on the first day of May and on the first day of November in each and every year: And we do also hereby grant and appropriate out of our said common fund to the said new parish and vicarage of Fatfield one capital sum of one thousand and five hundred pounds sterling, to be applicable towards defraying the cost of providing a parsonage or house of residence for the said new parish and vicarage, according to plans and a specification approved or to be approved by us, such capital sum, or the balance thereof unapplied to such purpose, to remain in the meantime in our hands at interest after the rate of three pounds per centum per annum and such interest to be paid to the Incumbent for the time being of the said new parish and vicarage of Fatfield: Provided always, that if at any time lands, tithes, or other hereditaments sufficient, in our opinion, to produce the said yearly sum or stipend, or for such part thereof, our liability for the payment of such yearly sum or stipend of one hundred pounds, or any part thereof, shall be annexed by us to the said new parish and vicarage, in substitution for such yearly sum or stipend , or for such part thereof, as the case may be, shall thereupon and thereafter cease and determine.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our common seal, this twenty fourth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Monumental Inscriptions Fatfield St. George:
WWI:
Inscription: "To the Glory of God / In Memoriam / Our Glorious Dead / In the Great War 1914-1918
WWII
Inscription: "Roll of Honour / In Memory of Those who were Killed in Action or Died on active / service whilst serving their King and Country. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends"
Roll of Honour Parchment, made by Mawson, Swan & Morgan, Newcastle