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FIRMLY INDEPENDENT: Rae Scott, who celebrates her 100th birthday

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Old salt

IN FINE VOICE: Stanwick Group Choir members, back from left, Ian Black, Brian Heap, Michael Moran and Dinah Iceton, front from left, Sheila Grundy, Moraig Hyde, Janet Hall and Doreen Liston

IN FINE VOICE: Stanwick Group Choir members, back from left, Ian Black, Brian Heap, Michael Moran and Dinah Iceton, front from left, Sheila Grundy, Moraig Hyde, Janet Hall and Doreen Liston

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Saints and sinners

THE TUCKER FAMILY: Russell and Ann with Joshua, six, and Beth, three

THE TUCKER FAMILY: Russell and Ann with Joshua, six, and Beth, three

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Miner miracles

GREAT FAITH: Anne Jeans

GREAT FAITH: Anne Jeans

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Absentee fathers

FOUR SQUARE: Leaders Adrian Hancock, Richard Sellick, Hazel Charlton and Gordon Lennox at the Memorial Hall where they now meet

FOUR SQUARE: Leaders Adrian Hancock, Richard Sellick, Hazel Charlton and Gordon Lennox at the Memorial Hall where they now meet

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Moving spirit

LIGHTS OUT: The congregation leaves the late-night service at Ripon Cathedral

LIGHTS OUT: The congregation leaves the late-night service at Ripon Cathedral

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Sober reflections

Departing priest Carole Lloyd

Departing priest Carole Lloyd

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Christmas Carole

CLOSER LOOK: Mary Wells, left, and Jean Lazenby enjoy the decorations on one of the trees on show at the festival

CLOSER LOOK: Mary Wells, left, and Jean Lazenby enjoy the decorations on one of the trees on show at the festival

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Many a slip

LITTLE HELPER: St Nicholas assisted by Emily Williamson from the Chorister School

LITTLE HELPER: St Nicholas assisted by Emily Williamson from the Chorister School

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Wonder worker

INTO THE LIGHT: Members of St Cuthbert’s church choir process down the central aisle with their candles

INTO THE LIGHT: Members of St Cuthbert’s church choir process down the central aisle with their candles

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Forthcoming attraction

HAVING A GIGGLE: Two of the oldest church members, Mary Walker, 87, right, and Brenda Atkinson, 76, left, with some of the youngest

HAVING A GIGGLE: Two of the oldest church members, Mary Walker, 87, right, and Brenda Atkinson, 76, left, with some of the youngest

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Total immersion

STANDARD BEARERS: Youngsters representing the town’s Cubs and Brownies with their organisations’ flags

STANDARD BEARERS: Youngsters representing the town’s Cubs and Brownies with their organisations’ flags

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Time honoured

ANNIVERSARY GATHERING: From left, the minister and former ministers of Howden-le-Wear Methodist Church, from left, Bill Middlemiss, Eileen Appleyard, Dr Alan Powers, current minister Ann Sheperdson, and Tom Wilkinson.

ANNIVERSARY GATHERING: From left, the minister and former ministers of Howden-le-Wear Methodist Church, from left, Bill Middlemiss, Eileen Appleyard, Dr Alan Powers, current minister Ann Sheperdson, and Tom Wilkinson.

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Spread betting

‘WONDERFUL YEAR’: Steward Jean Proud at High House chapel, Ireshopeburn

‘WONDERFUL YEAR’: Steward Jean Proud at High House chapel, Ireshopeburn

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High and handsome

JAMMY: Enjoying the doughnut eating challenge

JAMMY: Enjoying the doughnut eating challenge

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Batman and bobbin’

LABOUR OF LOVE: A knitted Last Supper at St John's church, Lynesack, for the harvest and festival of talents

LABOUR OF LOVE: A knitted Last Supper at St John's church, Lynesack, for the harvest and festival of talents

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Stitches in time

LICENSING AGREEMENT: Archdeacon Nick Barker and the Bishop of Jarrow Mark Bryant welcome newly licensed Richard and Margaret Deimel

LICENSING AGREEMENT: Archdeacon Nick Barker and the Bishop of Jarrow Mark Bryant welcome newly licensed Richard and Margaret Deimel

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Ship shape

Visitors to St Mary’s admire the anniversary quilt.

Visitors to St Mary’s admire the anniversary quilt.

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A light on the town

LET BATTLE COMMENCE: Above, ‘Germans’ parading at Frosterley

LET BATTLE COMMENCE: Above, ‘Germans’ parading at Frosterley

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Action stations

IN CONFERENCE: The NHS consults in the Upper Room of the Cornerstones development at Chester-le-Street Methodist church

IN CONFERENCE: The NHS consults in the Upper Room of the Cornerstones development at Chester-le-Street Methodist church

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Cross purposes

BRONTE BUNNIES: The Reverend Alf Waite with his Dutch Blue rabbits

BRONTE BUNNIES: The Reverend Alf Waite with his Dutch Blue rabbits

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Sunniside up

ANNIVERSARY: A wedding at Marske Methodist church in 1960

ANNIVERSARY: A wedding at Marske Methodist church in 1960

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Bright – and early

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: The Reverend Jane Grieve

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: The Reverend Jane Grieve

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Together sown

IN SAFE HANDS: Newborn Judah is held by his father, Jon Cook, pastor of Newcastle CLC

IN SAFE HANDS: Newborn Judah is held by his father, Jon Cook, pastor of Newcastle CLC

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Baby boomers

A WIGGLE ON: The Wigglettes go through their paces

A WIGGLE ON: The Wigglettes go through their paces

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Sandwich course

NEW PARISH PRIEST: Father John Livesley, right, with father-in-law Father Peter Anderton, outside St Andrew’s Church, Tudhoe Grange

NEW PARISH PRIEST: Father John Livesley, right, with father-in-law Father Peter Anderton, outside St Andrew’s Church, Tudhoe Grange

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Geometry lesson

GOLDEN JUBILEE: St Margaret of Scotland, Brookfield, Middlesbrough

GOLDEN JUBILEE: St Margaret of Scotland, Brookfield, Middlesbrough

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Better late

GOWN AND OUT: The procession from Durham Castle to Durham Cathedral

GOWN AND OUT: The procession from Durham Castle to Durham Cathedral

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Courting ritual

GALE FORCE: The faithful gather on a blustery day for the open air service outside Barton Methodist chapel

GALE FORCE: The faithful gather on a blustery day for the open air service outside Barton Methodist chapel

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Ford popular

HIGH CHURCH: From left – Father Ray Burr, Father Ian Grieves and Father John Payne, priests at St James the Great

HIGH CHURCH: From left – Father Ray Burr, Father Ian Grieves and Father John Payne, priests at St James the Great

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Suicide notes

PLAYING TO ITS STRENGTHS: Whitworth Parish Church, near Spennymoor

PLAYING TO ITS STRENGTHS: Whitworth Parish Church, near Spennymoor

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Vital organ

THE TARDIS: Esh Winning Methodist church, big enough to billet two battalions

THE TARDIS: Esh Winning Methodist church, big enough to billet two battalions

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Baptism of fire

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(That’s Garsdale’s Wonderful Railway)

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Renewal form

PLAY DAY: Nine-year-old Trinity Frank with a toy puzzle cross in the Jean Watson Godly Play room

PLAY DAY: Nine-year-old Trinity Frank with a toy puzzle cross in the Jean Watson Godly Play room

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Play things

UNITED: Superintendent minister Chris Eddy

UNITED: Superintendent minister Chris Eddy

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Old haunts

MUCH-TRAVELLED: The Reverend Laura Wilford

MUCH-TRAVELLED: The Reverend Laura Wilford

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Occasional treat

EASTERN PROMISE: The sky starts to turn pink over Ireshopeburn, in Weardale, at the Easter dawn service

EASTERN PROMISE: The sky starts to turn pink over Ireshopeburn, in Weardale, at the Easter dawn service

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Easter offering

RUGGED CROSS: Methodist ministers Ruth Gee and Leo Osborn at Wolsingham

RUGGED CROSS: Methodist ministers Ruth Gee and Leo Osborn at Wolsingham

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Pilgrims’ progress

VIP VISIT: Minister Keith Bamford

VIP VISIT: Minister Keith Bamford

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President and correct

FULL OF PRAISE: Above, ‘Bishop Tom’, the Bishop of Durham ,pays his first visit to St Helen’s Church in Kelloe, alongside priest Carole Lloyd and lay reader George Reed

FULL OF PRAISE: Above, ‘Bishop Tom’, the Bishop of Durham ,pays his first visit to St Helen’s Church in Kelloe, alongside priest Carole Lloyd and lay reader George Reed

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Keller instinct

HANDS RAISED: Members of the congregation at the Xcel Church, in the Xcel Centre, Newton Aycliffe

HANDS RAISED: Members of the congregation at the Xcel Church, in the Xcel Centre, Newton Aycliffe

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Xcelsior

LICENSING SERVICE: Bishop of Jarrow Mark Bryant, centre, with the Reverend Chris Elliott, left, and Archdeacon of Auckland Nick Barker

LICENSING SERVICE: Bishop of Jarrow Mark Bryant, centre, with the Reverend Chris Elliott, left, and Archdeacon of Auckland Nick Barker

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Duty bound

‘SPORTS GEAR’: The Reverend Roberto Viana, in colourful attire, preaches in Maltby Methodist Church

‘SPORTS GEAR’: The Reverend Roberto Viana, in colourful attire, preaches in Maltby Methodist Church

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Little bundles

OLD AND NEW: George Barber at the digital keyboard, with the pipe organ behind

OLD AND NEW: George Barber at the digital keyboard, with the pipe organ behind

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Good vibrations

MAKING GOD LAUGH: Canon Philip Thomas, vicar of St Michael’s, Heighington

MAKING GOD LAUGH: Canon Philip Thomas, vicar of St Michael’s, Heighington

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Candle power

BRIGHT OUTLOOK: Steward Kathy Grylls inside the new-look building

BRIGHT OUTLOOK: Steward Kathy Grylls inside the new-look building

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Light minded

ALL TOGETHER: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Saltburn, after a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

ALL TOGETHER: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Saltburn, after a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

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Joined-up thinking

HISTORIC CEREMONY: The Highside Longsword Dancers ‘behead’ Bishop James Bell at St Mary’s Church, Masham

HISTORIC CEREMONY: The Highside Longsword Dancers ‘behead’ Bishop James Bell at St Mary’s Church, Masham

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Getting the point

INDUCTION EVENING: Anne Coates, Luke Denley and Sylvia Ward.

INDUCTION EVENING: Anne Coates, Luke Denley and Sylvia Ward.

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Torch bearers

LOOKING BACK: Ferryhill Methodist chapel shines through the snow

LOOKING BACK: Ferryhill Methodist chapel shines through the snow

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Working model

ANGELIC UPSTARTS: Dot Thompson lets the event go to her head. Below right: Angels singing, peace on earth

ANGELIC UPSTARTS: Dot Thompson lets the event go to her head. Below right: Angels singing, peace on earth

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Halo, halo...

ON MESSAGE: Agnes Hall gets into the spirit of the service as the hymn singing begins

ON MESSAGE: Agnes Hall gets into the spirit of the service as the hymn singing begins

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Top of the tree

FAREWELL: Bill Carvey, who served as Church warden at St Mary’s, is presented with a vase by Sir Mark Wrightson to mark his retirement after 40 years

FAREWELL: Bill Carvey, who served as Church warden at St Mary’s, is presented with a vase by Sir Mark Wrightson to mark his retirement after 40 years

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Unsung hero

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