150th anniversary celebration for Evenwood church that rose from the ashes

WORSHIPPERS are preparing to mark their church’s 150th anniversary with a major community get-together inspired by their Victorian forbears.
The congregation at St Paul’s, in Evenwood, will celebrate the milestone in September with a Victorian fair on the church green.
The plans, which were announced at the last parish council meeting, include a marquee, fairground rides, refreshments and an exhibition of old village photos with a nod to Evenwood’s mining heritage. Church-goers are raising funds and have asked the parish council whether they would contribute. Evenwood Parish Council agreed to contribute £150. Money is also coming from the diocese.
The church rose from the ashes in 1909 after a serious fire on December 29, 1907, when flames were found behind the organ at the church.
Bishop Auckland Fire Brigade were sent to the area, but because of the bad state of the road, by the time they arrived the damage had been done. Little of the original structure remained beyond the blackened walls and the repair bill was estimated at nearly £3,000. Darlington architects Messrs Clark and Moscrop were tasked with returning the church to its former glory.
Two years after the blaze, St Paul’s was re-opened thanks to £2,500 donated through local subscriptions along with some insurance money. The Bishop of Durham was on hand for the re-opening together with the local vicar.
The anniversary of the reopening took place with a festival in 2009.
Since then, villagers have raised tens of thousands of pounds to pay for improvements including repointing and a new kitchen.