Spennymoor Catholic Club aka The Columba

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.

06/04/2026

287. An Easter Bunny gave the blessing at St Charles RC Church on Easter Sunday with Fr Remi getting fully into the spirit of Easter.

24/12/2025

286. Fr Anthony’s Christmas Vigil Mass. it’s a nice service, worth a watch.

Christmas Carols and lessons followed by Christmas Vigil Mass

25/10/2025

285. In a little over four years from September 2021 to October 2025 St Charles RC Church at Tudhoe has had four parish priests.
In chronological order they are Fr Harry, Fr Tony, Fr Anthony, Fr Remi. It’s the same number of changes of parish priest as there have been changes of Prime Minister in the same period!
Who realised that? Here they are. ( Starting from top left, then bottom left to top right then bottom right).

21/10/2025

284. Following the appointment of his predecessor Fr Anthony to parishes in South Shields, this last weekend 18th and 19th October saw Fr Remigius Udembaozoh takeover as parish priest of St Charles Church in Tudhoe.

Born in Nigeria Fr. Remi, as he is known, was ordained in to the Catholic Diocese of Orlu Imo State, Nigeria. He has spent the past eight months as assistant to Fr Anthony so this will no doubt help as he settles in to his new role in charge of the parish.

He is a nice guy and looks forward to meeting people either at church or around the town. We wish him well.