The church dates from the early 12th century. The church became collegiate when Richard Whitton was appointed by the Bishop of DurhamRt Revd Robert Neville as the first Dean of Darlington in 1439. To support the dean, there were four prebendaries, Cockerton, Newton, Blakwell and Darlington. The college survived until 1550 when it was dissolved.
Following a lightning strike on the spire on 17 July 1750,[3] the crossing tower was rebuilt in 1752.
A major restoration took place in 1864-65 by the architects George Gilbert Scott of London and James Pigott Pritchett of Darlington. The estimated costs of the works were £1,590 (equivalent to £192,200 in 2023)[4] and William Vane, 3rd Duke of Cleveland gave £500 (equivalent to £60,400 in 2023)[4] towards the restoration.[5] The work involved removal of the galleries and ceilings, the opening out of the gable windows in the nave and transepts, the rearranging of the pews, and the replacing of several stalls which had been destroyed. The main work was the restoration of the chancel where the piscina and armoury were restored, the sedilia restored to their original depth, the floor laid with encaustic tiles and eleven stained glass windows inserted. A font was presented by R.H. Allan, of grey polished marble. A lectern by Messrs King and Collie of Durham was presented by Miss Topham. The organ was restored and the bells in the tower were recast. The church was reopened for worship on 14 December 1865.[6]
The organ dates from 1880 when it was built by Forster and Andrews. Later work by Binns Fitton & Haley and Bishop & Son in 1987 has resulted in a 38 stop 3 manual and pedal organ. The specification can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[12] The new organ cost about £1,000 (equivalent to £125,700 in 2023)[4] and was opened on 3 November 1880 by William Thomas Best.[13]
Organists
George J. Crossley ca. 1830s - 1850
Frederick Second 1850 - 1858
J.W. Marshall 1858 - 1896[14] (formerly organist of Richmond Parish Church)
^"The Vicar of Darlington". Darlington & Stockton Times, Ripon & Richmond Chronicle. England. 4 August 1894. Retrieved 30 December 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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