THE Bishop of Durham came to Stockton today (Friday, May 13) to officially bless a new centre which aims to regenerate and improve the town.

Right Reverend Paul Butler blessed the new Love Stockton Centre, where churches, charities, Stockton Borough Council and businesses come together to try and make a positive difference for residents.

The Love Stockton Centre on the refurbished High Street provides skills for life training, job clubs, financial and digital inclusion opportunities, creative workshops, chaplaincy services, listening and befriending, a cafe and a quiet space to pray or reflect.

Rt Rev Butler opened the day’s proceedings, offering prayers of dedication and a blessing at the start of day two of his prayer walks in the Stockton Deanery area. He was joined by fellow prayer-walkers including newly appointed centre manager Jane Craig.

“It’s brilliant that at the centre of Stockton, there are so many churches working together, with such a range of services, offering huge hospitality and welcome to the people of Stockton to show them they are loved and cared for by God, through God’s people," he said.

Centre manager Ms Craig, who was a lay reader in Billingham team parish for more than ten years, said: “I am immensely looking forward to this new role leading the centre."

The Centre at 111 High Street was declared open to the public in a civic ceremony later in the morning by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Durham, Sue Snowdon, followed by short addresses from Neil Schneider, chief executive of Stockton Borough Council, and Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North.

The full itinerary of the Bishop’s Prayer Walks can be found on the dedicated Facebook page facebook.com/prayerwalkdurham