St Mary's Church, Hartlepool

{{Infobox church

| name = St Mary's Church

| fullname = Church of the Immaculate Conception

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| image = St Mary's church, Hartlepool - geograph.org.uk - 979792.jpg

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| coordinates = {{Coord|54.6963|-1.1826|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}

| osgridref = {{gbmappingsmall|NZ527337}}

| location = Hartlepool

| country = England

| denomination = Roman Catholic

| website = {{Official website|https://diocesehn.org.uk/church/the-immaculate-conception-st-mary/}}

| status = Parish church

| founded date =

| founder = Fr William Knight

| dedication = Immaculate Conception

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| functional status = Active

| heritage designation = Grade II listed

| designated date = 31 March 1949[https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101250263-church-of-st-mary-headland Church of St Mary] from British Listed Buildings, retrieved 29 April 2022

| architect = Joseph Hansom

| style = Gothic Revival

| groundbreaking = 1850

| completed date = 28 August 1851

| construction cost = £4,000

| parish = Holy Family, Hartlepool

| deanery = Hilda[https://diocesehn.org.uk/find-a-church/ Directory], Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, retrieved 29 April 2022

| diocese = Hexham and Newcastle

| province = Liverpool

}}

St Mary's Church or the Church of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic Parish church in Headland, Hartlepool, County Durham, England. It was built in 1850 and designed by Joseph Hansom in the Gothic Revival style. It is located on Durham Street, behind Hartlepool Borough Hall. It was the first Catholic church to be built in Hartlepool since the Reformation, and it is a Grade II listed building.[https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1250263 Church of St Mary, Durham Street], Historic England, retrieved 29 April 2022

History

=Foundation=

In 1834, a Catholic mission was started to serve the local Catholic population of Hartlepool. That year, a chapel was built. A Mr John Wells constructed it on the corner of Prissick Street and Henry Street. The priest at the chapel was Fr William Knight, who had come from Ushaw College. In 1837 a school was also built.Historic England, [https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/hartlepool-the-immaculate-conception/ Hartlepool - the Immaculate Conception], Taking Stock, retrieved 29 April 2022

=Construction=

Between 1840 and 1850, the population of Hartlepool doubled and a new, larger church needed to be built to accommodate the growing Catholic population. Funds were raised by Fr Knight and a Mr Lawrenson. The funds were collected and building work started in 1850. On 28 August 1851, the church was opened by William Hogarth, the Bishop of Hexham. It replaced St Mary's Chapel and is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary. It was designed by Joseph Hansom, who also designed Birmingham Town Hall and Arundel Cathedral and John Galley built it and the total cost was £4000. It was largely paid for by subscriptions. In 1884, St Bega's School was built. From St Mary's, other missions were started in Hartlepool from which other churches were built such as St Joseph's Church. In 1946, the spire of the church was demolished, because it was in poor condition.