Skip to content

Church celebrates its weddings through the years

Catherine LeeNorth East and Cumbria
News imageAndrew Rogers A church interior, seen from a height, with six standing mannequins clothed in long white wedding dresses, three with veils, and one seated one displayed between the pews. A smaller mannequin wears a long red dress, and there are a number of poster boards with photos.Andrew Rogers
Wedding and bridesmaid dresses are on display, along with photographs and other momentos

A church is hosting an exhibition showcasing weddings which have taken place there through the years in honour of Valentine's Day.

Stranton All Saints' Church in Hartlepool has been displaying dresses from the 1970s to the present day, and photographs dating back even further.

Organisers said those who had been married there, including several generations of families, had welcomed the opportunity to reconnect with the church and reminisce about their special days.

The event is part of a year-long programme of events to celebrate its 900th anniversary.

While organising the event, the Reverend Claire Mead met with one couple, now in their 90s, who were married in the church in 1950.

She said: "It was a delight to meet with Dorry and Stan who still live in the town.

"They shared all about their wedding in the church in 1950 and loved looking through their photos with me.

"They thoroughly enjoyed reminiscing about Rev Hancock who officiated at the wedding; their friends and family who were a part of the service and the reception they had at the Boiler Makers Club opposite the Town Hall.

"It was great to discover how much Stranton Church meant to their life together."

News imageFamily photo Black and white photograph, dating from 1950, of a couple on their wedding day. She is wearing a high necked white dress with long sleeves, and a veil pulled back over long dark hair. They are standing behind a large stand of roses and a two-tiered wedding cake, which she is about to cut.Family photo
Dorry and Stan shared memories of their wedding in 1950

Jordan and Chloe also searched out photos of their April 2017 wedding.

The couple said: "It was the best place for us to get married because we'd actually met at Youth Fellowship in 2012.

"We've continued attending Stranton since and now have two children who are part of the current youth set-up".

News imageFamily photo A young couple on their wedding day. He has dark hair and a beard and is wearing a dark suit and a maroon bow tie. She is wearing a cream lace strapless dress and has a wreath in her dark tied-back hair. They are seated and looking at each other and smiling.Family photo
Jordan and Chloe met at the church youth fellowship group
News imageAndrew Rogers Two wedding dresses displayed on mannequins. The one to the left has a high neck and empire waistline, a pattern of stitched diagonal crosses and a long veil draped behind it. The other has a high waistline, a square neckline, long sleeves and stitched pattern of flowers. To the side an open photograph album resting on a table shows a wedding picture.Andrew Rogers
Dresses on show date from the 1970s to the present day
News imageAndrew Rogers Side view of Stranton Church. The listed structure, in sandstone, has a square clock tower and there are two high arched windows in the central structure, and one in a further building to the side. A path leads up to the porch from a graveyard.Andrew Rogers
The event is part of the church's 900th anniversary celebrations

Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.

More stories like this