Cheese and Wine Evening for Opening Doors Project at St Cuthbert's.

Opening Doors: A Celebratory Evening at St Cuthbert’s

On the evening of July 3rd, St Cuthbert’s Church welcomed a distinguished group of guests to a special event marking a significant step forward in the Opening Doors Project—our vision to make the church more accessible, welcoming, and central to community life.

Among those in attendance were Lord and Lady Barnard, the Dean of Durham Cathedral, MP Lola McEvoy, former MP Peter Gibson, and the Mayor and Mayoress of Darlington. The evening began with walking tours of the church supported by some of our knowledgeable stewards. Guests explored key features of our remarkable building, accompanied by background music from Sophia Strings, who set a reflective and elegant tone.

A selection of fine cheese and wine—generously provided by The Cheese and Wine Shop in Darlington—was enjoyed in the south transept, along with hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks. Guests also had the opportunity to climb the Belfry Tower and take in stunning views from the gallery above, listen to stories from the past of the church delivered by local historian Elizabeth Holmes , take in Paul Gilmore's recent presentation to Friends of St Cuthberts about how the church has changed over the centuries or view the new drone survey of the inside of the church

Reverend James Harvey delivered a powerful address, highlighting the historical transformations of the church and the urgent need to adapt once again for the future. His message was clear: preserving heritage goes hand-in-hand with opening doors to new generations.

The evening closed with a breathtaking performance by soprano Sophia Nickolaiets, a Ukrainian refugee and Royal Academy of Music scholar, whose voice filled the ancient space with awe and hope.

Thanks to widespread coverage on social media, the event reached far beyond the walls of St Cuthbert’s and sparked new conversations about the church’s role in Darlington and we are incredibly grateful to all who supported the evening.

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