St Thomas' Church

Our churchyard was closed to new burials by Order in Council in 1958. Shortly after, responsibility for the care and maintenance of the churchyard was transferred to Stanley UDC and its successors, (currently Durham County Council). They look after the grass cutting, trees, paths, gates, walls and fences, and safety of the headstones/memorials. Most of the new deep burials took place between 1841 and 1900, with mostly reopened graves thereafter.

All of our full record books such as for baptisms, weddings, and all of the burials, are lodged with the County Records Office at County Hall, Durham. The church still holds a current baptism record book. Durham County Council's Registrar of BDM records our church weddings, but we also keep one duplicate wedding ledger in church.

Please note that the nearby old and new Collierley Cemeteries, (separate, and known locally as Harelaw Cemetery), have long been owned and maintained by the local authority, (currently Durham County Council. Tel: 03000 26 0000). They hold detailed burial records for these two cemeteries and all enquiries should be directed to their Cemeteries department in the first instance. What mistakenly appears to be an old methodist chapel adjacent to North Road is now a private residence but was originally the Collierley Cemetery Mortuary Chapel.

Some further information on our churchyard burials and memorials may be found on the ' Find a Grave ' website. But please note that the website is unconnected with us, and you should therefore use it, and the information therein, with caution.

Thank you.

St Thomas' Church

St Thomas' Church

Get in touch

Fr Keith Freeman

Family History Enquiries and Enquiries about Graves and Memorials