History of St Lukes Church Ferryhill. Continued.
Little of outstanding importance happened until the late nineteenth century when, in 1895, a new vicar was appointed, the Rev. Thomas Leech Lomax. During his long vicarate, until he retired in 1940, Canon Lomax was responsible for the building of the churches at East Howle, Dean Bank, the Broom, Ferryhill Station and Chilton. His work will be remembered in this parish for a very long time.Canon Lomax had St Columba's Church built at East Howle by William Kaye in 1901. It was opened by the Dean of Durham, and was to serve the needs of East Howle and Metal Bridge now that the colliery there was in full operation.
In the parish magazine of 1901, it is recorded that the parish of Ferryhill included St. Luke's, St. Columba's, Chilton Iron Church built in 1877 and Windlestone Mission Church.
In 1906 the Ecclesiastical Commissioners granted an extra yearly stipend of £50 to the incumbent of Ferryhill, to be paid in three monthly instalments.
Other churches built in Ferryhill, within the life of St Luke's, include the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1863, the Primitive Methodist Church in 1877, Dean Bank Zion Methodist Church in 1907, the Village Methodist Church in 1909, and the Independent Methodist Church in 1912. The Roman Catholic Church of All Saints was not built until much later in 1927.The council minutes of the parish date back to 1920, and one of the first items mentioned on 22nd February, 1921, was the division of the parish. The Rev. Lomax said that a new church would be built on the adjoining site to St. Oswald's at Ferryhill Station. It was recorded, in the minutes of the Parochial Church Council on 10th November, 1925, that "Mrs. Lomax moved the hearty congratulations and good wishes to be offered to the Rev. L. Wilkinson on his preferment as the first Vicar of Chilton". The new Parish of Chilton was instituted by Order in Council dated 12th October, 1925. The Church Commissioners granted a yearly income of £120 to the priest in charge of Chilton Parish. An endowment of £2,000 for the new parish was provided chiefly by the Rev. T. L. Lomax and his family.
In March 1928, Chilton Iron Church was burnt down and the present church of St. Aidan was built to replace it. It was consecrated on 2nd May, 1930.
The Dean Bank Mission Church of St. Cuthbert was once part of a skating rink, built at the west end of the village. Part of the rink was bought in 1912 and the Church was erected on the site occupied, until recent times, by the Ferryhill Clothing Factory. The Rev. T. L. Lomax was also responsible for the building of St. Luke's Hall in 1913. In 1940, the Church of St. Martha and St. Mary at the Broom was built for the vicar, the Rev. Canon Lomax, at his own expense, by Messrs. Lazenby and Co. Ltd. on land which had been bought for the purpose in 1912. The opening ceremony was performed, by the Bishop of Durham, on 18th December, 1940.
In 1952, certain alterations were made to St. Luke's Church. The plans for the work were drawn up by the Rev. C. W. Clarke, curate, under the direction of the vicar, Canon J. McManners. A gallery was erected at the west end of the church, providing an extra thirty seats with fifty more seats underneath. The organ was then transferred to the gallery, making possible a separate vestry for the choir. The sanctuary was panelled in oak. An alcove, containing a Book of Remembrance of the men who died during the 1939-1945 War, was built into the north wall of the sanctuary. Memorial gifts, all constructed in oak, included an altar rail, choir stalls, two priests stalls, a pulpit and litany desk. The church was redecorated, a new carpet laid and new lighting system installed. 
The dedication service, for these improvements and additions to the Parish Church took place on Tuesday, 19th February 1952. It was conducted by the Bishop of Durham, who also held a Confirmation. On the following day the vicar, Canon McManners, left to take up a new appointment in the Diocese of York.