Co Durham: mining artist dies

The internationally-known Catholic artist, Tom McGuinness, has died, aged 79, in Co Durham. Mr McGuinness spent 39 years working down pits, painting his fellow workers all the time. St Mary's Church, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, was full for the funeral of the pitman-artist, who started work down the mines as a wartime 'Bevin Boy.' Among the eight windows designed by him at the church was one above the altar showing Christ's hands. The caption was: "Father into your hands I commend my spirit" and this was the theme of prayers led by parish priest Fr Simon Weymes. Mr McGuinness designed the window in memory of the parish's first parish priest the late Fr Peter Jarrett, who came from the village of Witton Park, where Mr McGuinness was born.