The History of St. Stephens Middlesbrough

by the Rev. John Green. Minister

In 1908 a group of people from the Parish Church of St Peter formed themselves into am independent congregation. Circumstances at the Parish Church, from which this congregation came were such that they found they could no longer continue worshipping there. They started holding their own Sunday services in Lower East Street School, very close to the Parish Church in which they had previously worshipped. In those early days those services were conducted by honoured Laymen. Prominent among them were Mr J. W. Lofts, Mr John Moffatt, Mr Hugh McGregor, J.P., Mr Sims and Mr John Dennington.

The first recorded business meeting took place in the Temperance Hall on 5^th August 1908 and by 10^th September of that same year plans were already being made for a New Church to be built. A fundraising committee was set up in December 1908 and on 12^th February 1909 the first approach was made to the Free Church of England and after further meetings on 20^th May 1909 it was unanimously agreed to join the denomination. So the result was that after negotiations between Rev. G. H. Spencer, B.A., and The Rev. A.V. Bland, D.D., and representatives of the people, the cause became affiliated to The Free Church of England.

The Free Church of England as a distinct, visible Ecclesiastical organisation was unknown before 1844, yet it is descended from the most ancient form of Christianity and its doctrines are those of the Bible. It is, therefore a truly evangelical Church and its principals state categorically that the Bible is “The sole rule of faith and practice”.

At a meeting held on 26^th January 1910 given a list of several names and after a vote this new Free Church of England Church chose, St Stephen’s as its title.

On 24^th March 1910 The Rev. H. T. Clark, of Ilfracombe, commenced his incumbency. He did a wonderful work in consolidating the cause until, in December 1912, he accepted a ‘call’ to The John Knowles Memorial Church in Hoyland.

From the very beginning of this new Church until December 1911 all services and smaller social events were held in the East Street Schoolroom. Early negotiations for a site on which to erect a Church Building, in East Street, failed but on 8^th June 1911 the meeting agreed to purchase a site in Woodlands Road. Events then moved very quickly, the site was acquired, plans for the building were approved and work commenced on 6^th October 1911. The foundation stone laying ceremony was also in October and on 16^th November 1911 the first meeting was held in the new premises. The official opening and Consecration Service, by Bishop W. Troughton, took place on Wednesday, 13^th December, 1911.

A local landmark and engineering feat, known as the Transporter Bridge, was also opened that same year, on 17^th October. This bridge spans the river Tees and is close to the East Street Schoolroom where St Stephen’s Church was born.

This building was erected as a temporary structure intended to last 10 years but is still used today as the Church Hall.

When Rev. H. T. Clark moved to Hoyland the Rev. Walter Haslam took up the incumbency of St Stephen’s Church on 8^th December 1912. During his ministry the schoolroom was extended in February 1914 and Convocation visited St Stephen’s, that same year. He left in August 1915, having accepted the incumbency of Holy Trinity Church Oswaldtwistle.

On 10^th October 1915 The Rev G. Rowland Davis commenced his incumbency and continued through those very difficult war years, until his resignation on 10^th August 1919. During Rev Davis’s ministry, in March 1916, a small pipe organ was installed and the first organist was Miss Minerva Grainger. Her sister, Miss Flora Grainger, was choirmaster. During this time the kitchen was enlarged to meet the growing needs of the Church.

For the next few months, after Rev. Davis’s resignation, services were conducted by Lay Readers supported by visiting clergy.

The Rev F. W. Turner on 3^rd December 1919, commenced a ministry which lasted until 24th January 1924. He also saw the installation of electric lights! The Rev Turner accepted the call to The John Knowles Memorial Church Hoyland and St Stephen’s were, again, without a minister, this time for over a year.

On 22^nd February 1925, Rev George Woolrich became the incumbent. Before his arrival, however, the existing Church House was sold and a larger house in Woodlands Road was purchased. Rev Woolrich formed a St Stephen’s Football Team which competed in a local league.

On 30^th December 1928 the Rev Woolrich accepted the incumbency of Emmanuel Church Warrington and terminated his ministry at St Stephen’s. At the end of 1928 the Church House had to be sold, and the Church was again without a minister for two months. Services were conducted during January and February 1929 supported by Rev Major F. J. Naylor and Rev G. Gordon Keeling.

On 25^th March 1929 Mr H. Brooksbank Slater accepted the call to the incumbency and was later ordained into the Ministry. He continued in office until 30^th September 1934.

On 21^st October 1934, Rev Richard Charles Horton accepted the invitation to the incumbency and moved into rooms in Middlesbrough at that time.

An official reception was held on Monday 26^th November 1934. In his first year as incumbent The Rev. Horton consolidated and built up the work of the church and at the Easter Open Vestry Meeting many paid tribute to his “fine work” and effort. This ministry continued through the very difficult years of the Second World War.

It is recorded in minutes dated March 1938 that £2-3-0 (2.15) in coppers, collected by Rev Horton as Bun Pennies, should form the basis of a New Building Fund. Many fund raising activities put money into this New Building Fund from then on, with the purpose of building a permanent Church to replace the Temporary One.

The dream finally became a reality when, in June 1955, work commenced on the New Building. The stone laying ceremony took place on 23^rd July 1955 and the New Church was officially opened and consecrated by Bishop Frank Vaughan on 3^rd December 1955. Convocation was held at St. Stephen’s in June of the following year.

Rev. Horton’s ministry continued until 27^th August 1961, a total of almost 27 years. Even then he still continued as Minister with oversight, until September 1969.

In the period following the end of Rev. Horton’s Ministry, services were conducted by the Lay Readers and supported by many Lay Preachers from various local ‘Free Churches’

On 30^th September 1962, Mr John Green was admitted to the office of Lay Reader, conducting services supported by local preachers.

On 13^th August 1977, Rev. John Green was ordained Deacon, which, thankfully, ended a period of 8 years without a Minister. Rev John Green was raised to the Presbyterate on 11^th July 1979 and continues in his Ministry to this day.

Our form of worship is The Free Church of England Book of Common Prayer and on the First and Third Sunday of each month this is coupled with the Service of Holy Communion. Mrs Ann Gott takes the children into the Hall for Sunday School Lessons on these Sundays. The last Sunday of the month is a Family Service when Children and Adults remain together, in Church.

The Ladies Sisterhood meets on Monday afternoon’s whenever possible and a Prayer Meeting and Bible Study is held on Monday Evenings again, whenever possible.

The Hall (Original Church) and the present Church were separate buildings and the toilets were outside both premises. About 16 years ago a new building comprising kitchen and toilets was built and also interconnected both buildings making life much easier for everyone. 

At the time St Stephen’s was erected in 1911 and the permanent building built and opened for worship in 1955, there were many houses in the near vicinity. Now most of this terraced housing has been demolished and the Church stands in a wholly commercial and business area which makes it difficult to attract new members. Although with the University nearby we occasionally have student visitors.

On the 18^{th February 1956 Mr John Green and Miss Betty Grange were married, by Revd Richard Charles Horton, at the new St Stephen’s Church, which had been opened and consecrated, by Bishop Frank Vaughan, in December of the previous year. Betty and John had met, some years earlier, at St Stephen’s Youth Club.}

Five days after they were married, John was posted to Germany to continue his National Service and was demobbed in January 1957. He returned to his job with GPO Telephones, now BT, and continued with them until 1992 having completed almost 40 years service.

Almost immediately after his return to civilian life, he and Betty were elected onto St Stephen’s Vestry, now known as the Church Council. John became Sunday School Superintendent in 1959 and was admitted as Lay Reader in September 1962.

Revd Horton’s incumbency had ended in August 1961 but he continued as Minister with oversight until September 1969. From September 1969, John, as Lay Reader, conducted services and local preachers, from several denominations, preached the gospel. John was ordained Deacon, by Bishop Cyril Milner, in August 1977 and raised to Presbyter in July 1979, again by Bishop Milner.

In February 2006, Revd John and his wife Betty, celebrated their Golden Wedding and received many greetings from friends in many Churches both near and far. They thank everyone for their good wishes and are grateful to God for all his many and varied blessings and his guidance throughout the years.