A CHURCH which rose from the ashes of a devastating 1950s fire launched its golden anniversary celebrations yesterday.

The reopening of St Paul's, Spennymoor, by the late Queen Mother in 1956 will be one of the events commemorated by the congregation during a year-long programme of services and entertainment.

The programme got under way at yesterday's morning worship when parish priest the Reverend Lynda Gough and a group of children released 50 gold balloons.

Two pupils from Rosa Street School, Joseph Richardson and Joe Robinson, won a competition to design a slogan and logo for the celebrations.

Mrs Gough said: "It is very much about looking to the future. We have a strong congregation and a very exciting future.

"The congregation is growing and were are seeing lots of younger people coming in."

A donation from an anonymous worshipper has started a fund to install a stained glass window in the east end of St Paul's to replace one lost in the fire.

The blaze, which destroyed the church on St James's Day Saturday, July 25, 1953, was an arson attack. A local man was prosecuted for setting fire to robes hanging in the sacristy.

The flames were so fierce that only the clock tower was left of the original building, although Betty Wendel, who raised the alarm when she called in to see to the altar flowers, and passers-by managed to rescue sanctuary furniture and altar silver.

First schools and later the town hall were converted into temporary churches and the congregation launched a fund to contribute to the £26,000 rebuilding costs.

Construction eventually started in May 1955 and the Bishop of Jarrow preached at a service in the ruins.

On November 1 the following year, the Queen Mother went to St Paul's after the reopening of Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle. The bishops of Durham and Jarrow led a reconsecration service before a party in the town hall.

The present Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Tom Wright, will be the guest preacher at this year's anniversary of the rededication, on November 1. The next celebration event is a 1960s music night on Saturday from 7pm in the church hall with music from Wishful Thinking.