Residents, businesses and local organisations were invited to form a Friends of Billingham Green group in autumn 2023, bringing the of Old Billingham together with new activity around the Green.
The was started by St Cuthbert’s Church warden Charles Wellington and Matt Campbell. Membership was open to anyone willing to offer ideas or time.
A historic setting used in the present
St Cuthbert’s was central to the plan, not only as a historic building but as a place capable of hosting events and groups. Wellington wanted community use to bring the church to life while helping more residents appreciate the history around them.
Campbell, an actor and trained coach, was preparing a community choir based at St Cuthbert’s. Although the church would be its home, the choir was planned as a secular group open to people of any religion or culture.
That combination reflected the wider purpose of the Friends group. Protecting heritage did not mean keeping the Green static. It meant finding current reasons for people to meet there, learn about it and feel responsible for its future.
Early events and new groups
The programme described at the time included an autumn fayre organised by former Billingham town councillor and Station Road business owner Janet Turley. A new Rainbows and Brownies unit at St Cuthbert’s was also being explored.
The church was welcoming a new vicar, Mahalha Wachepa, to work alongside rector David Brooke. An open Friends meeting was planned so residents could decide which activities and priorities should follow.
A community group based around one small area can connect people who might otherwise operate separately: a church, traders, uniformed youth groups, performers, residents and people interested in local history.
The founders did not present a finished programme. They offered a structure through which ideas could be proposed and volunteers could turn them into events.
The article was first published in the autumn edition of The Old Billingham Times and credited to C. G. Hatton, before appearing on The Tees. That local chain of publication suited the subject: a neighbourhood telling its own story and asking more people to take part.
Archive : Founders, early plans and attribution were checked against The Tees archive entry of 10 October 2023. The original date and featured image are preserved.