THOSE Ordnance Surveyors who depict churches with towers and churches with spires and churches with nothing much up top at all, would find an awful lot to the square inch in Yarm Road, Stockton.

Anglicans, Methodists and Roman Catholics congregate within 100 yards of one another, joined on that straight and narrow by the Church of the Nazarene, about which we know nothing whatsoever. Between them all stands the Queen Victoria, which might conveniently be renamed the Thirst After Righteousness.

Around the corner in Yarm Lane, dominated by a 120ft spire, is St Andrew's and St George's United Reformed Church, opened in 1876 as St George's Presbyterian Church chiefly - said contemporary accounts - to serve the "Scotch portion" of the population.

Though all are warmly welcomed, a Scottish accent is still discernible. Even the chip shop a few doors down is called The Frying Scotsman.

The Northern Echo of September 15, 1876, had extensively reported the church's opening, proclaiming "one of the most handsome buildings in the town" and the "auspicious circumstances" which surrounded it.

The mayor and his corporation had marched in flowing robes from the town hall, the church was "crowded in every part", the collection raised £226 and the dinner which followed at the Queens Head was accompanied by "sentiments" but not by toasts.

Elsewhere, the news columns were full of "indignation meetings" at the Turkish atrocities - "the usual resolutions were passed," The Echo noted, a little wearily - of Bowes Show ("a large increase in magnitude") and of the five Stockton lads fined 2/1d each for playing pitch and toss in a timber yard.

We also reported moves towards unity talks between Anglicans and Wesleyans - exclamation marks may be inserted ad infinitum - and under the tiny headline "Woman confined in a cornfield" the story of a poor lass harvesting near Darlington who the previous afternoon had been "suddenly taken with labour".

Unable to be removed, she gave birth amid the stooks, and was afterwards conveyed to the Darlington Workhouse where mother and child were said to be doing well (if not necessarily resting.)

But to return (at last) to St George's, united with the nearby church of St Andrew's in 1934 - after several aborted attempts - part of the United Reformed Church since its inception in 1972 and joined with two other Stockton URCs in 1987.

Sunday was "District Day", when ministers and other preachers exchange pulpits. "We're thoroughly mixed up this morning," said Daphne Clarke, on an away day with her husband Peter from Low Row URC in Swaledale.

She is district president, he not only synod clerk - covering the entire North of England - but since early retirement from Durham University, town clerk of Richmond as well. "The top brass," someone said, affectionately.

There, too, was a chap who years ago had sent one of these columns a wrapper for "thick Irish sausages." They still made them, he insisted.

It's a non-liturgical church with a choir, lively hymns, a desire to work more closely with fellow Christians and - as with all other denominations - a tendency to gravitate towards the back.

Conversation in the pew in front concerned the likelihood of "Her Ladyship" appearing, though whether it was a reference to the Dowager Duchess of Ragworth or simply to someone who believed herself to be that noble personage, we were unable to ascertain.

In 1933, a departing minister had talked of hard times, many difficulties and an outlook "anything but bright". In 1934, on amalgamation, there were 456 communicant members. Her Ladyship didn't turn up; about 70 others did.

The other noticeable thing about the pew in front was that its six occupants sat with hymn books, pew Bibles and rather large mint imperials in front of them - one sweet for ladies, two for gentlemen - and that, the moment Daphne began her address, they engaged in the sort of synchronised swallowing that might yet win gold in the 2004 Olympics.

They do much the same thing, only with tea and iced fancies, in Last of the Summer Wine.

It was an excellent address, principally about loving one another, which began with an enquiry about far-flung families. The congregation had kin in Australia, Alaska and Antigua.

"I've a daughter in Bolton," said Daphne.

Peter gave thanks for all things North-Eastern - "for tall ships and fish and chips" - and for "Cook Country and Cartland Country."

It's possible he meant Cookson Country; Cartland Country, though pink chiffon populists may know differently, appears to be in Hertfordshire.

Afterwards there was coffee and biscuits and a chance to chat with Fergus McLellan, born in Glasgow ("and very proud of it") but a regular at St Andrew's and St George's since 1938.

He's also the organist, has produced the Stockton and Thornaby Gang Show since 1968 ("I think we run a pretty good Gang Show") and retains a huge fondness for the building.

"It hasn't changed a lot but it's very pleasant and has been looked after in all sorts of ways by a lot of very honest and serious people. I know people say buildings shouldn't matter, but they do."

Around the crowded corner in Yarm Road, morning worship seemed also to have finished at St Peter's, St Cuthbert's, the Methodists and at the Church of the Nazarene.

In the Thirst After Righteousness, the service was only just beginning.

* St Andrew's and St George's meets at 10.30am every Sunday. The Rev Daniel Meister, the minister, is on (01642) 804206.

Published: 23/02/02