St.Andrews Church
St.Andrew
St. Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen. He and his brother Simon Peter were fishermen in Bethsaida. He was originally a disciple of St. John the Baptist before following Jesus as his first disciple. Andrew brought Simon (St. Peter) to Christ and they were the first to leave their daily jobs to follow the Messiah. After our Lord ascended into heaven, St. Andrew travelled to preach the Gospel. He is said to have been put to death, tied to an X shaped cross at Patmos in Achaia.
St. Andrew was adopted as the patron saint of Scotland, whose national flag displays the distinctive white cross associated with his death. It is reported that in the 8th century the relics of St Andrew were brought to the community which bore his name and is now known the world over for its famous golf course - St. Andrew's.
How then did the church in Dalton-le-dale become known as St. Andrew's? Was It brother to St Peter's at Monkwearmouth built in 674 AD, or did it have some association with the sea and the traditions of the local community? One suggestion purported is that the name is associated with a locality which has fresh running water, an important feature for any community in those times. The truth will probably never be known and another mystery of our past will remain unsolved.
In today's church his white cross can be seen on the Mother's Union Banner and he is remembered every year on the 30th November, his feast day.