The parishes of Brandon and Ushaw Moor are part of the Durham Diocese under the sacramental and pastoral care of the Bishop of Beverley. The parish consists of a number of former coal mining villages on the west side of Durham City. We have three churches under our care, St. John’s Brandon on the A690 opposite the sports centre, St. Luke’s Ushaw Moor on the Esh Winning Road, and St. Catherine’s opposite the Social Club in New Brancepeth.

Our aim is to worship God and to be the living sacramental sign of the presence of Christ in our midst. Our mission is really seen in who we are: the sacramental and sacrificial Body of Christ. At the heart and centre of our mission is the Mass. As a Eucharistic Community we seek to teach and live out what St. Augustine taught in relation to our receiving of Jesus in the Mass, which is, ‘we become what we receive.’

In the gift of the Mass we receive the glorified and risen Lord and what flows from our receiving of him is a life modelled after his. At the heart of the Mass is the sacrificial life of Jesus who calls us to take up our cross and follow him in his way. Our mission is to follow Jesus in the way of the Cross, who leads us out into the world by the power of the Holy Spirit, to live and to work to the praise of his glorious grace.

Though we believe the mission of the Church is all God’s mission, his abundant love and grace calls us to share in his life of love and work of mercy in order to make him known to others. If you are looking for a church home where you can come alongside the Body of Christ to add your part in Christ’s love and work, we welcome you to one of our places of worship. Do come by and visit us and it is our prayer that God would bless all of you as you journey in the Faith once delivered to the saints!

The Rev’d Canon Peter Brown, CMP5