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• 10 May 2021
VISION: Revd Alison Wallbank stands among the upturned pews and rotting floor of St Mary’s Church
TRANSFORMING into the upper dale’s culture and heritage hub may just be the answer to a prayer to save a church on the brink of closure.
Middleton-in-Teesdale’s 142-year-old St Mary’s Church has recovered from one ageing mishap to the next in recent years, with its roof and guttering having to be replaced, and extensive repointing needing doing.
Damp that had got into the walls had to be repaired and re-plastered. New lighting had to be installed.
And after spending many thousands of pounds, parishioners thought they had future-proofed their church for the next 100 years.
PROMINENT former upper dale farmer and avid historian Roger Redfearn has died, aged 83.
Mr Redfearn will be best remembered for his impressive knowledge of the history of Forest-in-Teesdale and his informative talks to groups on the subject.
He was also heavily involved in a host of community and agricultural groups.
The dalesman was born during a snowstorm at Cock Lake, Forest-in-Teesdale, on February 24, 1937, and he attended school there before moving on to King James School, Bishop Auckland.
His daughter, Suzanne Guy, said Mr Redfearn would take a taxi to Middleton Station and travel by train to school, setting off a 7am and not returning until 6pm.