St Ives is known as "The Miners' Cathedral". The old colliery banner is displayed in Church.
County Durham is an ex-coalmining area where there are many old pit villages. Our Diocese was once ruled by a Prince Bishop who had his own army and who minted his own coinage. As a people, we are known for our friendliness and hospitality. Nearby Consett was once a steel-producing town, but now has many light industries. Housing is rapidly expanding, with more houses being built in Derwentside than anywhere else in Britain. Relations between different Churches are good, as we witness together to the Truth of the Gospel in this rapidly-changing, beautiful part of County Durham.
