GALE force winds destroyed a vicar's grave when a decorative stone cross fell from a church.

The Reverend William Cassidi's grave is in a prominent position next to St James' church, in Thorpe Thewles, where he was vicar for 41 years until 1882. The parish of Grindon includes Thorpe Thewles, Stillington and Wolviston.

The local Church of England primary school is named after him, as is the vicar's bridge which was erected in his memory by grateful parishioners.

Looking at the gravestone, the present vicar, the Reverend Ian Jelley, said: "We had a couple of stormy nights and a stone cross on the east side of the church came down. It hit the top of William Cassidi's gravestone, taking off two substantial chunks of pink granite. Thankfully, the grave isn't seriously damaged."

Mr Jelley said he would ask a stonemason to look at the damage. The sandstone cross from the roof had broken cleanly into seven pieces, and it might be possible to put it together again.

"I've been told the Cassidi family were of Irish origin and quite wealthy. William Cassidi was described as a larger-than-life character who ruled this parish between 1841 and 1882. This particular church was consecrated in 1885 and originally called Holy Trinity.

"Cassidi also started the national school. He was educated at Cambridge and became an ordained priest in 1838 at Durham Cathedral.

"He was made curate at St Giles' church in Durham before arriving at Thorpe Thewles. While here, he became chaplain to the Marquis of Londonderry."

The vicar said the Wynyard estate lay within the parish of Grindon and its private chap-el was still used for monthly evensong, plus annual harvest and carol services.

"When William Cassidi died, his family and local people put up the money to build the vicar's bridge," he said.

Mr Jelley, his wife Christine and daughter Rachel, have been at Thorpe Thewles for a year. He comes from Teesside, but worked on Tyneside before this post. He also worked as a chaplain at Holme House prison in Stockton. For a number of years he served as Cleveland policeman on the Stockton and Billingham beats