ONE of Britain’s oldest purpose-built Catholic churches has been saved for generations to come, thanks to a £300,000 facelift.

St Cuthbert’s RC Church, off Old Elvet, in Durham City, which was built in 1827 – two years before the Catholic emancipation, had suffered through severe weathering and ill-judged repairs – so much that it was placed on English Heritage’s “at risk” register.

But now its future has been secured, following a seven-month refurbishment.

Much sandstone stonework has been replaced or repaired and a renowned stained-glass window by Irish artist Harry Clarke has been restored.

Father Benjamin Earl, the parish priest, said: “We are delighted with the work, certainly with the window.

“We have a certain satisfaction that we have succeeded in preserving this for our lifetimes – and not just saving a beautiful building but one which is the basis for a community.

“The church is full twice on Sundays and busy during the week.”

The church was designed by renowned architect Ignatius Bonomi, also the man behind the 1824 bridge over the River Skerne in Darlington, Durham Prison, Eggleston Hall and Lambton Castle.

It is the central catholic parish in Durham, with students making up about half of its 350 members, and hosts Durham University’s catholic chaplaincy and a religious community of three Dominican friars.

Harry Clarke’s window, dating from 1931, features the northern saints Cuthbert, William of York, Thomas Percy and Bede and is dedicated to Canon William Brown, the parish priest from 1887 to 1924.

The refurbishment project cost rose by around £50,000 after structural problems were discovered during the work, which began last July and was scheduled to finish in October but ran on until earlier this month.

Funding has come from English Heritage, the National Churches Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation and others but about £46,000 must still be raised.