Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Chopwell
History
The parish dates from 1914 and until 2000 consisted of two "tin" churches that were common in the diocese - one at Chopwell and the other at Low Westwood on the floor of the Derwent Valley.
Following reorganisation in 1998, Sacred Heart in Low Westwood closed and Our Lady of Lourdes and St Joseph's Highfield were ministered by one priest who was resident at Highfield. In 2001, the present church opened in place of the original tin church and now serves the needs of the people of Chopwell, Blackhall Mill, Hamsterley Colliery, the Westwoods, Ebchester, Medomsley and East Law. It is a simple, modern building with a kitchen and meeting space in the narthex.
In 2012, further re-organisation saw Our Lady of Lourdes served by Fr James, resident at Crawcrook: following Fr James's retirement in July 2024, Fr Tuckwell, resident at Winlaton, became our Parish Priest.
FIND US
Our Lady of Lourdes, Hall Rd., Chopwell, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE17 7AD
Facilities: easy access, WC and loop system.
Welcome
Many people who come to our church comment on the welcome they receive and the strong sense of community. Our church is warm and comfortable and easily accessible.
As well as the 11:00am Sunday Mass, Mass is usually celebrated on Wednesdays at 10:00am. Please check the bulletin each week.
Every Wednesday morning we have exposition for half an hour before mass (9:30 – 10:00am). It is a time for prayer and silence in the presence of the Lord - an opportunity to be still in our very busy lives.
Parish Activities
Our Summer Fayre is held each year in June in the beautiful Church Grounds. Our annual Christmas Fayre is held each Year at the end of November, and in recent years this has been in the church itself. As well as boosting Parish Funds, these events are an opportunity of meeting with other church and social groups, who we work with throughout the year to support each other.
We run an ongoing collection of items for local food banks and support a range of other charities in the course of the year, serving people both in the local area and abroad.
Two parishioners represent us on the ‘Parish Counsel’ (not ‘Council’) for the four Catholic parishes in the Derwent Valley of which Fr Adrian is Parish Priest.
Our young people play an increasingly important part in both our liturgies and in parish life, so far as readers, welcomers, as assistants to the sacristan and running their own stall at the summer fair. A group has been set up for parents and children to share ideas and plan children’s liturgies, which have been a lovely part of our worship in the past year.
At the present time, along with the whole of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle we are actively involved in a process of discernment about our Mission and the future.
Our support for The People's Kitchen
On the first Sunday of each month, join us for our Coffee Morning immediately after Mass, in aid of the People’s Kitchen.
Solar Panels
On 18th May 2026, Our Lady’s had solar panels installed as a way or reducing our carbon footprint. As a church which uses electricity for heating as well as the regular uses we envisage a huge saving on our energy bills. We hope also to be able to sell to the grid any excess energy we generate which will help with national provision of green energy. So far we have seen a reduction in the electricity bill for May of over 40%. Some of this may have been due to less heating required that month but it was also only fro a period or 12 days.
