Father Anthony Cornforth arrived at St Mary’s RC Church in 2017.
He has worked in places as far afield as Florida, Zambia and even Liverpool.
All of my family still live in Darlington and it is great to find myself in familiar territory for once, after moving.”
As well as looking after the parish of St Mary in Aycliffe he is also parish priest of St Thomas’ Shildon and currently is overseeing churches in Ferryhill, Coundon and Chilton. “When the railway workshops in Darlington closed in the sixties, work was transferred to Shildon but my father lost his job with British Rail as a result, but I am growing to forgive Shildon and have always had a soft spot for Aycliffe!”
Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
At St Mary’s, we attend Mass every Tuesday, with paired classes joining together to celebrate, and families are warmly invited to share in this special time. In addition, the whole school gathers for Mass once each half-term, following the liturgical calendar to mark significant moments in our faith journey. We also make regular use of the church hall for community and spiritual activities, such as our traditional Lenten Lunches, which bring pupils, staff, and families together in reflection and fellowship.
