Spennymoor Catholic Club aka The Columba

05/08/2026

296. Remembering the online quizzes of Spennymoor Catholic Club which were held during the Covid pandemic, here’s a picture quiz showing well known US detective series from the 1970s shown on either BBC or ITV.

Reminisce and remember these programmes, can you name them?
If you feel really knowledgeable, have a go at naming the actors and actresses shown in the photos.

A dozen to try. How many did you name, either shows or actors or both. Answers will be shown later in the comments.

25/07/2026

295. Does anyone recognise this man? It’s doubtful but understandable.

Yet he is a man of importance due to the circumstances of his death which have led him to be called a martyr by Christians,including the late Pope Francis, non-Christians,and the press. Calls to declare him a saint started soon after his death.

The beatification cause was officially opened at diocesan level in April 2017, after Pope Francis had waived the otherwise mandatory five-year waiting period for the opening of such causes.

So who is he and what were the circumstances of his death?

The photo shows Fr Jacques Hamel.

Ten years ago tomorrow on 26th July 2016 in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, Fr Jacques Hamel was assassinated whilst he was celebrating Mass by Islamist terrorists just because he was a priest. He was 85 years old.

His vile murder reminds us all that evil walks amongst us. But who will actually remember this and commemorate the tenth anniversary of his death.

May Father Jacques intercede for us.

24/07/2026

294. Bishop Stephen this week welcomed the priests who serve in the diocese from overseas to what he hopes will be an annual get together.
As well as the group photo, the close up shows Frs Remi and Anthony, the current and previous parish priest of St Charles. (It looks like Fr Beneth between them).

14/07/2026

293. The murder of Ann Widdecombe ( the photo below shows her as a young woman) is an abomination. Words cannot express the horror of what Ann must have felt at the time of her horrific death.

Heather Herbert is a trans activist who recently stood as a candidate for the Scottish Greens in the Scottish elections.
She has come into public prominence by her comments relating to Ann’s death, writing: "And some good news for once. I hope it was an extremely painful death."
Heather Herbert also added: "And I hope she was handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony."

How could a human being make such vile comments about another human being?

Born a man but now identifying as a woman, she probably thinks she is immune from prosecution for such comments because misogyny is not classed as a hate crime in the UK.

But Ann Widdecombe (AW) was a high profile Catholic and as such these vile comments by Heather Herbert constitute a religious hate crime against a high profile Catholic and therefore Heather Herbert should be prosecuted.

Imagine someone making similar vile comments against Heather Herbert (HH), not because HH is a trans person but because of the comments HH has made against AW. HH would likely claim such behaviour as a transgender hate crime.
There is no difference to these comments by HH being classed as a religious hate crime.

22/05/2026

292. https://youtu.be/YY_0uWju3rU?si=Vlo2m1lcB6zYik66
Listen to this,a very good “Sanctus” hymn, it’s never been played (yet) at St Charles, Tudhoe.
Skip past the advert. What do you think of it?

Hello everyone. Here is a hymn that is structured as a repeating chorus, suitable for Trinity Sunday. The missing stanzas are "Jesus is the Lord" and "W...

21/05/2026

291. Following on from 290 which showed some photos of Fr Harry O’Reilly, former parish priest of St Charles, here’s some photos of him including where he currently lives, The Holy Cross Residential Home in Sunderland.

The first shows Fr Harry celebrating Mass at St Charles, the second shows him cutting a cake to celebrate his diamond jubilee as a priest, last year. The third is of Fr Harry relaxing at the Home.

The fourth,from a few years past shows the former Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle, Fr Robert Burn visiting three retired priests at Holy Cross, namely Fr Pat McKenna, recently deceased, Fr Harry and the late Cannon Bob Spence.

Does anyone remember any of these priests?

06/05/2026

290. Photos from the requiem mass of Fr Pat McKenna , today 6th May. Fr Harry O’Reilly, formerly parish priest of St Charles, gave a humorous and poignant insight into Fr Pat’s life - they were very good friends of each other.
Fr Harry did very well and looked fine.

06/05/2026

Harking back to the Catholic Club’s online quizzes during the COVID pandemic, who can put names to these Carry On actors/actresses?

288. Remembering the on line quizzes of Spennymoor Catholic Club during the Covid pandemic and just for fun, who can names these people? Here’s a big clue. They all appeared in the iconic Carry On film franchise.

Reading along from the left on the top row and then going along each row there are fifteen names. Answers appear in comments. See how you do.

05/05/2026

289. It is with sadness that the news of the funeral arrangements are given for Fr Patrick McKenna who died in The Holy Cross retirement home in Sunderland a few weeks ago ( on Good Friday).

Whilst he was never a parish priest at St Charles, he was a much‑loved priest through out the North East and some people in and around Spennymoor will likely be familiar with him.

Fr Pat was originally from Tavanagh,Killybrone, Co. Monaghan. His priesthood took him from St Joseph’s in Gilesgate to English Martyrs Fenham, St Columba’s Wallsend, St Bede’s Stockton and St Mary's in Stockton. He was also the Dean and, in his early years in Stockton was the chaplain at Holme House Prison.

Fr Pat was a great friend of Fr Harry, a former, much loved parish priest of St Charles,regularly being his golf partner as both were very keen and enthusiastic golfers. He did from time to time cover masses for Fr Harry when the latter went home to Ireland for his annual holidays.

Fr Pat and Fr Harry both respectively retired to The Holy Cross Home and so continued their friendship for many years thereafter. He will be remembered as a man of compassion.

Fr Pat’s Funeral Mass takes place tomorrow at 12:00 Noon Wednesday May 6th followed by a private family cremation at 1:30pm. The Mass, to be held at St Bede's in Stockton on Tees, is being led by the Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle, Bishop Stephen Wright and is expected to be in great demand.

To this end the service will be live streamed for those who would like to see the Mass but who are unable to attend in person.
Here’s the link, which will be available to use from a quarter to twelve tomorrow morning.

https://www.youtube.com/live/-LLulQyaWa4?si=DAOCy_V1JDs3sA6G

19/04/2026

288. Remembering the on line quizzes of Spennymoor Catholic Club during the Covid pandemic and just for fun, who can names these people? Here’s a big clue. They all appeared in the iconic Carry On film franchise.

Reading along from the left on the top row and then going along each row there are fifteen names. Answers appear in comments. See how you do.