On the afternoon of Saturday March 28^th 1953, a group of parishioners and their friends gathered on a building site at the end of Cleveland Gardens. They had come the witness the laying of the foundation stone of the New Church of St Francis by Lt-Col. Bernard Cruddas, DSO, DL, JP, Chairman of the Newcastle Church Board of Finance.  Building work had begun three months earlier, and by late March the bricks forming the outer walls of the nave and sanctuary were being laid, and the tower, in the floor of which was to be laid the stone, was also taking shape.

It was a blustery but sunny day as promptly at 3 o’clock a procession appeared and wound its way in silence from the Ministry of Pensions’ canteen which had been loaned for the occasion. Led by a Crucifer and Acolytes, the Choirs of St Gabriel and St Francis preceded the clergy of Newcastle Deanery, the Sheriff of Newcastle and other distinguished lay visitors together with members of St Francis’ Church Council. Immediately after came the Lord Bishop preceded by Col. Cruddas, escorted by the Church Wardens, and the Parish Priest Humphrey Jones.

The provost Noel Kennaby led everyone in the profession of Faith in the words of the creed, then the bishop invited Colonel Cruddas to lay the stone “to the glory of Him who is the everlasting foundation of the Church of God”. Sounding the stone with the mallet, Colonel Cruddas laid the stone and the bishop dedicated it.

The long-awaited moment was over, and in his address the bishop paid tribute to all those who had given so generously of their prayers and time and money in order that yet another place might be hallowed for the worship of Almighty God in this diocese. The vicar of St Gabriel’s led the concluding prayers for the work of the parish in the future. The simple ceremony being over, the Bishop dismissed everyone with his blessing. The colourful procession wound its way through the crowd leaving room for those who wished to place their offering on the stone.

The day’s events were brought to a happy conclusion when the Lord Bishop and guests were entertained in the church hall on Cragside by the Parochial Church Council on behalf of the parish. 

As the curate Raymond Arnesen remarked, “As the guests dispersed to their respective parishes they carried away with them something of the joy which the people of St Francis knew had been bestowed on them that day as a seal upon many years of labour. A new chapter in the life of the Church of God in High Heaton had begun.”

John Telfer