Saint Matthews Church New Silksworth

The church was erected in 1870 by Lord Londonderry for £2000. It is in the early English style. In 1879 the church was enlarged by the addition of aisles at a cost of £1200.

The following is from articles written by the late Rev. Atkinson. These are largely his words.

The Oak Altar and Reredos, together with the east paneling, were the gifts of Mr W. G .Robinson and family, late of Silksworth House. The Organ Case and the North and South Chancel Oak paneling by Mr R. P. Doxford, for some years resident at Silksworth Hall and a churchwarden. The marble floor and choir platform were raised by public subscription. The Litany Desk and Hymn Boards were carved by Miss Foster. The present Lectern was given by the congregation through the efforts of Mrs. Dingle wife of Rev Arthur Trehane Dingle Vicar 1896-1904. The East window was erected in 1888; the two outside sections (North) were the gifts of Mrs Robinson to her husband, and (South) by his children. The centre was raised by subscription, and the late A Weightman took a prominent part in it. The window in the chancel (South) is the gift of Mr. W.G. Robinson to his mother, and was erected in 1903. The Rev. de la Hey became Vicar in 1911 and remained for 3 years. The Present Side Chapel was decided upon in his time but not erected. Rev. Atkinson succeeded him in 1914 and was responsible for the arrangements for the Dedication of the Side Chapel by Dr. Guirk, Bishop of Jarrow. The work was done by William Gray of Durham. The windows are by Kemp, the East, The Good Shepherd, the South, the Northern Saints-Oswald, Aiden and Hilda, they are a memorial to Colonel L.A. Gregson and his wife Sophia of Burdon and was erected by their daughter Sophia in 1914. The Communion Rail is a the work by Ogilvie , of Aberdeen, and was the gift of Colonel James Gregson, late of Burdon, and erected in 1916. The Choir Stalls, Clergy Stalls and Pulpit were raised by public subscription as a Memorial to the Marquis of Londonderry and dedicated by the Bishop of Durham, Dr. Moule, in the presence of his widow, the Marchioness. The Choir and Clergy Stalls were done by Ogilvie of Aberdeen and the pulpit by Wm. Gray of Durham. They were erected in 1917.

The Screen and Figures and Tablet with names are a Memorial to the Fallen in the Great War, and were raised by public subscription. This work was done by Ralph Hedley, of Newcastle, and has been much admired by artists. The Architect to all of the above is Mr. Clayton Green, of Sunderland. Both Screen and Tablet were unveiled by CoI. E. Vaux and dedicated by Dr. Guirk, Bishop of Jarrow in 1923. The small Organ is the gift of the late W. L. Walker, J.P., Vicar's Warden, of North Moor Farm to the memory of his son, Lieut. Sydney Walker, who was killed in the Great War.

The Oak Vestry Door completed the chancel and altogether the Oak work has cost considerably over £2000. The South window in the Sanctuary was erected by the congregation in 1929 to the late Rev. J. Barwick. In 1922, during the Jubilee Week on Sept. 21st, an additional acre was added to the Churchyard and dedicated by the Bishop of Durham, Dr, Hensley Henson.