TOMORROW the new priest-in-charge of St Cuthbert's and Holy Trinity churches in the centre of Darlington is licensed.

Matthew Firth is to be the first vicar of the two churches. His licensing seemed a good excuse to delve into The Northern Echo's photo-archives.

We did a lot on Holy Trinity when it commemorated its 150th anniversary in 2016, but St Cuthbert's, of course, is much older – in 995, the saint's remains are believed to have rested in the town on their way from Ripon to Durham.

There probably was a small Saxon church on the riverside site in the 10th Century, but it was Bishop Hugh de Puiset who started creating the "Lady of the North" from 1180, when he had a palace alongside it.

It is a fascinating building, regularly open to the public at lunchtimes, and as of tomorrow, it will even have a vicar. Here are a few views of St Cuthbert's Church from The Northern Echo's archive.