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William Riddell, the first parish priest of St Mary's, was born on 5th February 1807, the third son of Ralph Riddell of Swinburne Castle. He was educated at Stoneyhurst and then in Rome where he was ordained priest. His first post was as secretary to Cardinal Weld at the English College.

In 1832 he was appointed assistant priest, under Father James Worswick, at St Andrew's in Newcastle. On Fr Worswick's death ten years later, he succeeded him as priest in charge. He was chairman of the Public Meeting of Catholics of the town held in 1838 when it was agreed to build St Mary's. A few months before St Mary's was opened, Riddell was appointed auxiliary to Bishop Mostyn who was Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. [This was before the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy and the foundation of the diocese.] Bishop Mostyn died in August 1847 and William Riddell became the sole bishop for the District.

The dedication Mass for the opening of St Mary's was in August 1844. Bishop Riddell sang that Mass and took charge of the new parish. Perhaps that Mass was the last happy event he was to be involved in. Apart from the huge debt the parish had, there were other troubles. When the fever epidemic struck Newcastle in 1847, the poorest people were the worst affected because of their living conditions. The wealthy were at much less risk: their homes were cleaner and, being in a better part of the town, had some sanitation. The fever hospital was full and a vagrant ward was converted into a temporary hospital. The priests worked among the victims and naturally became the victims themselves.

Bishop Riddell was left comparatively helpless for want of priestly assistance, nor did he spare himself to visit those afflicted. The book Famous Tynesiders records that he went into houses that no other minister in the town would enter. Inevitably he became ill himself. Having performed the obsequies for Fr James Standen, one of the priests, he felt unwell and returned to his house at 7 Charlotte Square. Ten days later, on 2nd November 1847, he died. When his body was taken to the church for the requiem, the crowds lining the streets of Newcastle were so great that the pressure of people on the wall in Charlotte Square caused it to collapse, killing a seven-year-old boy.

A crypt with spaces for twenty coffins had been constructed in the garden of the new church and the body of William Riddell was laid there. Around the tomb were inscribed the words: 'Sub hoc lapide iacet corpus Gulielmi Riddell Episcopi, qui hanc ecclesiam fieri fecit...' [Under this stone lies the body of Bishop William Riddell, who caused this church to be built...]. A few months later the body of Fr William Fletcher, another victim of the Fever, was placed beside that of his former bishop and parish priest.