St. Joseph's, Norton, - A Brief History

In the late 18th Century, a granary was located on the site of the current Church.
This granary was used to provide grain for the nearby mill,- located where Mill Street is today.
In the late 19th Century, Ragworth Hall was built, close to what is now Chantry Close.
The Ropner family (wealthy industrialists) lived in Ragworth Hall.
The granary building was converted into a coach house and stables for Ragworth Hall.

Ragworth Hall was situated on the land now occupied by the new houses on Darlington Lane between Chantry Close and The Stable Yard (entrance to the School Kitchen).

The area to the East of the Church, adjacent to St Joseph's School hall, is still referred to as "the Stable Yard".

Norton Green, by the Duck Pond, ca. 1900.
Ragworth Hall is the large house with chimney
immediately above the boy standing on the left of the photo.

On the 4 June 1926 the then Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, the Right Reverend Joseph Thorman, along with the Diocesan Trustees entered into an agreement with Sir John Henry Ropner for the purchase of Ragworth Hall Norton together with four and a half acres of land and the stables. The object was to provide a place of worship for the Catholics of Norton. Prior to this the people of Norton were served with Masses in St. Mary's Major Street, Stockton.

However, with population growing, a Mass centre was set up by Fr. Robert Thornton in the library of
Ragworth Hall in 1933 (27August).

The Library of Ragworth Hall being used as a Church.

The Ragworth Hall Mass Centre was used for services until St. Joseph's church was opened in July 1935.
The original buildings converted into the church were a stable and coach house and on the upper floor a granary. The area of what is now the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Committee Room was two floors, the lower being a harness room and garage with living quarters above.

Work was also started on a new school. The new St. Joseph's School was opened in April 1936 at a cost of less than £4000.

Father Thornton died in December 1970 and was succeeded by Father John O'Gorman.

In 1993, the Church was completely reordered, bringing it into line with the mind of the Second Vatican Council. Whilst the church was closed for the reordering Mass was celebrated in the School hall on Sundays but the Saturday evening Vigil Mass was celebrated in St Mary's Parish Church, Norton by courtesy of the Vicar and Parish Council.
The heavy masonry pillars were replaced with "see through" columns. A very devotional Blessed Sacrament chapel occupies the area of the original sanctuary and altar. The nearness of the altar, the openness, brightness, warmth and togetherness - all go to make the church welcoming and prayerful. The reordered Church was reopened by Bishop Ambrose Griffiths on 23 April 1993.

To mark the New Millennium it was agreed to have a new entrance and porch with occasions such as funerals, weddings and weekend masses in mind. Accordingly, in 1998 a new Porch and entrance was built on to the Church. This new Porch was blessed by the Right Reverend Dom Ambrose Griffiths, O.S.B., the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, on 20th December 1998.

St. Joseph's Church in early 1998, before the building of the new entrance and Porch.


The new Porch and entrance to St. Joseph's Church.

The Right Reverend Dom Ambrose Griffiths, O.S.B., the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, with Father John O'Gorman, on the occasion of the blessing of the new Porch on 20th December 1998.