All events Calendar

Welcome to our friendly and inclusive church! Our Sunday Communion service starts at 11am and you are welcome, whether or not you wish to take communion. Because we are currently in vacancy (no permanent priest) we have a guest priest each week for the foreseeable future. The 4th Sunday of each month features our very popular 'Café Church'. We started this in 2018- it is an informal event held in our meeting room which involves lots of tea/coffee and cakes... it also involves a theme, a Bible reading, the Lord's Prayer and usually a well-known song at the end. There is lots of chat, sometimes a quiz or other small activity. Café Church often attracts a surprising number of people, and children, and we are proud of it. Each month it is led by a different member of the congregation. We hold special services for Remembrance, Christmas and others. Our 'Remembering Loved Ones ' service is quite special. We hold frequent events such as coffee mornings, concerts and our very popular, dare we claim, famous Afternoon Tea. This latter is quite a formal event held under canvas in the churchyard when the weather permits.

Sunday Eucharist

Every First, Second, Third, Fifth Sunday at for 1 hour
St Mary's, West Rainton
South Street West Rainton Houghton le Spring Durham, DH4 6NR, United Kingdom

We have our Communion (Eucharist) service each Sunday of the month at 11am (except the 4th.) All Christians who normally take Eucharist in their own church are welcome to take Communion in ours. The 4th Sunday of the month is our Cafe Church service which does not feature Communion but does have lots of cake and chat! As we are now in vacancy this service may, very occasionally, be a Service of the Word with no Communion. Please send us a message if you would like to check before making a special journey. Each service lasts about an hour with an (optional!) 30 minutes afterwards for tea/coffee.

Service Celebrants

Every Sunday at for 1 hour, 30 mins
St Mary's, West Rainton
South Street West Rainton Houghton le Spring Durham, DH4 6NR, United Kingdom

During our period of vacancy our main Sunday service is featuring Priests who are mainly retired and are helping us out. We are so grateful to them all!

Here are details of who will be leading our services over the next few months:

4/10/26 Rev Rosalind Brown
11/10/26 Rev John Wilkinson
18/10/26 Rev John Wilkinson
25/10/26 Cafe Church led by Kevon Edis. Discussion of the vacancy process.
01/11/26 Rev Rosalind Brown
01/11/26 3pm. Service of Remembrance for Loved Ones. See seperate notice.
08/11/26 Remembrance Sunday led by Julian Ward (Reader) and Mike Whitehouse (Lay Minister)
15/11/26 Rev Peter Hood
22/11/26 Cafe Church led by Joan Campbell
29/11/26 Rev Margaret McKay
06/12/26 Rev Margaret McKay
13/12/26 Rev Peter Hood
20/12/26 Rev Peter Hood
24/12/26 Christmas Eve TBA
25/12/26 Christmas Day TBA

Remembering Loved Ones

for 1 hour
St Mary's, West Rainton
South Street West Rainton Houghton le Spring Durham, DH4 6NR, United Kingdom

Our very special service when we hold a calm and quiet service in memory of those who we have lost during the past year.

We will invite you to light a candle and sit quietly.

The service is not long but we hope that you will feel God's love whilst you remember the love that you have felt whilst your departed were still with you.

You do not have to book- just come along.

Bear in mind that this is a quiet service with just one gentle hymn. You can download a copy of the service below.

View attachment

Remembrance Day Service

for 1 hour
St Mary's, West Rainton
South Street West Rainton Houghton le Spring Durham, DH4 6NR, United Kingdom

Always emotionally moving and always relevant. Our Remembrance Day service is held this year on the 8th November. We start outside at the War Memorial from 10.45 whilst we wait for the chimes of Big Ben. After the laying of wreaths we process into church for the rest of the service.

This year the Royal British Legion is asking us not to forget that wars continue and our service personnel still die for us.

You are very welcome to join in remembering those of our Parish who died in the World Wars. There is no Holy Communion at this service.

Village Carol Service

for 1 hour, 30 mins
St Mary's, West Rainton
South Street West Rainton Houghton le Spring Durham, DH4 6NR, United Kingdom

Our 2026 Village Carol Service will be held this year on Monday 14th December at 6.30pm.

This is always the largest congregation of the year and features the children from our brilliant Village School! We are currently working on other guests and groups and will update here as we go along.

Cafe Church

In January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Every Fourth Sunday at for 1 hour, 30 mins
St Mary's, West Rainton
South Street West Rainton Houghton le Spring Durham, DH4 6NR, United Kingdom

Held on the 4th Sunday of each month (except December and Feast days) Café Church features coffee/ tea and cake in abundant quantities! Ideal for families it usually has a theme, not too challenging, laughter, a decent song and the Lord's Prayer. Lots of local residents come to Café Church every month for the relaxed atmosphere and chat. Our door is wide enough for electric scooters, prams, walkers and well behaved dogs.