Parish History[edit | edit source]

Coundon St James was created in 1842 from chapelry in Auckland St Andrew Ancient Parish and includes: Windlestone and Westerton. The church was rebuilt in 1872 on a new site set further back from the road, and on a much grander in scale, the accommodation being increased to 530 seats. Again dedicated to St. James, it was designed by the leading architect Ewan Christian, and is an imposing stone building in the Early English style with lancet windows, large and with an apsidal east end Instead of being served by a perpetual curate, it now had its own vicar. Chapels were also built for the Wesleyan Methodists, Primitive Methodists and New Connexions.

Parts of this parish became part of these parishes: Chilton St. Aidan (1925)

Parish Records[edit | edit source]

Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections Reference number: DDR/EA/PBT/2/63 Date: 1842-1845 Parish Register transcripts are available to search free online at Record Search.

The dates of the post-1760 transcripts have been noted in detail and sometimes only cover years. For most parishes in the collection there are gaps in the sequence of transcripts. It is advisable to consult the original parish registers for these years and events.

The following records for churches in the ancient parish of Auckland St. Andrew are also available at Durham County Record Office, County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UL:-

Auckland, St. Luke 1882-1966 (EP/Au.SA).
Auckland, St. Peter 1875-1931 (EP/Au.SP).
Byers Green 1845-1968 (EP/BG).
Binchester 1877-1959 (EP/BG & EP/Bin).
Newfield 1900-1956 (EP/BG).
Coundon, St. James 1842-1971 (EP/Cou).
Windlestone 1908-1929 (EP/Cou).
Eldon, St. Mark 1877-1982 (EP/El).
Auckland, St. Philip 1881-1952 (EP/Au.SA & EP/Au.SPh).
Hunwick, St. Paul 1846-1922 (EP/Hu).
New Shildon 1868-1953 (EP/NSh).
Newton Cap 1904-1970 (EP/NC).