Research Notes

Parish Notes Northumberland

Riding Mill St James

[Population 1911: incl. with Bywell St Andrew]

Church

In 1858 St James' Chapel of Ease was built largely through the effort of the vicar of Bywell St Andrews, the Rev. J. Jaques. It was acclaimed as a splendid example of Victorian Gothic village church architecture. During the incumbency of the Rev. Canon Slater 1866-1895 the church was enlarged and the sanctuary and organ added. A new vestry appeal was launched by the Rev. Canon Hinkley in 1962 and the new vestries were dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Newcastle on Sunday 8 December 1963. With the relinquishing of Bywell St Andrew's as the parish church, St James' Chapel of Ease became the parish church of St James' Riding Mill in 1975. [The Newcastle Diocesan Gazetteer (1982), page 40.]

A bronze plaque has the dedication:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
HENRY SLATER M.A.
VICAR OF BYWELL ST
ANDREW WITH ST JAMES
RIDING MILL FROM
1866-1895

There are a number of stained glass windows in the church:

In loving memory of
George Clements Hassell
died November 2nd 1907

GIVEN BY WILLIAM INGHAM SURTEES IN
MEMORY OF HIS BROTHER ANTHONY DIED
AT MALTA MARCH 24TH 1830 AGED 30

In memory of
Robert Bell - Alice Mary
and Emma Gilhespie

To the Glory of God and in
memory of the Rev. Canon G.E.
Richmond M.A. Vicar 1895-1919

To the Glory of God and in loving memory
of William Stanley Mitcalfe 1893-1962
and of his wife Mary 1900-1964

Windows in the chancel are three pairs:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE MEMORY OF ELIZABETH WIFE OF ROBERT PYBUS
OF NEWCASTLE ON TYNE. BORN 11TH NOVEMBER 1851 - MARRIED IN THIS CHURCH
5TH AUGUST 1874. DIED IN THIS VILLAGE 5TH AUGUST 1878.
THESE TWO WINDOWS ARE DEDICATED BY HER HUSBAND - EASTER 1879.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PIOUS
MEMORY OF JOSEPH WILSON - BORN
6TH JUNE 1801 - DIED 29TH MAY 1876
- AND OF ANN HIS WIFE -
BORN 23RD FEBRUARY 1808 - DIED
1ST JULY 1873 - THIS WINDOW IS
DEDICATED BY THEIR SURVIVING
SONS AND DAUGHTERS, EASTER 1879.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE MEMORY OF JACOB WILSON OF ALSTON HOUSE CUMBERLAND THE DONOR OF THE SITE OF THIS CHURCH. BORN 10TH JULY 1771. DIED 3RD JULY 1858. AND OF ELIZABETH HIS WIFE BORN LADY DAY 1776. DIED CHRISTMAS DAY 1857. THESE TWO WINDOWS ARE DEDICATED BY THEIR SON THOMAS WILSON, EASTER 1879.

A brass plate behind the porch carries the dedications to the four stained windows in the south wall of the nave:

+

To the glory of God and in memory of

Thomas Wilson of Oaklands in this Parish born  4 Dec,  1813  died 16 Aug,   1899.
Margaret Wilson his wife                 born  7 July, 1817  died 14 April, 1897.
Elizabeth Fair his sister                born 27 Aug,  1805  died 11 March, 1883.
Sarah Wilson his sister                  born 21 July, 1811  died 29 Feb,   1896.
Henry Vipon Wilson his brother           born 23 Oct,  1817  died 21 Dec,   1891.

the stained glass in the four windows in the south wall of the Nave was dedicated by their nephews and nieces, 1901.

The font cover is dedicated:

In Memory of Henry George Yates 1908-1954

A brass plate reads:

THIS BRASS PLATE IS PLACED HERE IN MEMORY OF
MARGARET ISABELLA ARMSTRONG
A LIFELONG WORSHIPPER IN THIS HOUSE OF GOD
BORN 1860 - DIED 1929
AS A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER
AS A MEMBER OF THE CHOIR,
AND AS ORGANIST,
SHE GAVE DEVOTED, UNSTINTED, AND LOVING SERVICE TO GOD
AND HIS CHURCH IN THIS PARISH

A brass plate in the chancel reads:

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Monumental Inscriptions

Sacred
To the Memory of
Hannah
Wife of
John North Esq.
of Leeds
who died January 27^th 1860
Aged 21 years

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.
This Tablet is erected by a few friends
in token of their affection and esteem.

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