Church leaves its troubles behind for anniversary

A church in South Tyneside which suffered serious setbacks twice in two years is set to mark its 60th anniversary with a musical celebration from across the ages.

- by Gareth Crickmer

St Oswald's RC Church in Gainsborough Avenue, Whiteleas, which opened on December 2, 1965, saw a fall in parishioner numbers when Covid struck in early 2020.

After reopening, it then endured a two-year shutdown when the roof of its parish hall was blown off by Storm Arwen in November the following year.

Repairs got underway but it was not until late 2024 that services resumed and another month before the hall was back in use.

But it is now going from strength to strength - and a special community get-together is being planned in the hall to mark the anniversary.