Perched on a hill, the church of St Andrew, Winston, has magificent views befitting its friendly parishoners.

HIGH, handsome and looking all the better for great age, the wonderful church of St Andrew, Winston, celebrates its 750th anniversary this weekend.

The first rector was identified only as Ricardus Persona de Winston, the present incumbent is the Rev Maureen Alderson. "I cannot imagine that there is a prettier parish church in England," she says.

Winston is between Darlington and Barnard Castle, a peaceful spot despite the nearby A67, the parish home to around 450 people. Though most names on the war memorial are from the Green Howards or King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, it is decidedly and determinedly in County Durham.

The church, often glimpsed but never previously visited, stands on a hill - Winston church hill, presumably - its spire now topped by a golden cockerel to mark the great anniversary, its views unceasingly magnificent.

Sir Walter Scott wrote of "sweet Winston's woodland scene", others now extol the millennium green or can read more prosaically about the millennium stone, said to be "glacial erratic". Then again, aren't we all?

"No matter how dull or drab the day, I always stop to admire the view on the way into church and always see something new," says Maureen.

Though not exactly crowing - it is the meek, after all, who will inherit the earth - the cockerel which, in turn, oversees it all is said to be a symbol of vigilance, awakening and hope for the future.

The Bishop of Durham helps lead them into the future at Evensong tomorrow afternoon, "For all the years" and "We love the place" high on the musical agenda.

Thomas Burgess, rector 200 years ago, became Bishop of St David's, instructed all his clergy to learn Welsh in an effort to keep at bay the forces of Methodist non-conformity and is said "almost to have invented" the Eisteddfod.

Folk also remember the summer day in 1988 when a similarly non-conforming pilot flew a Spitfire beneath the arch of Winston bridge - at a crossing once used by the Romans - and still wonder how by heaven he did it.

Peace long having returned, the churchyard cleared of safely grazing sheep - "better and cheaper than a strimmer," someone says - around 35 are gathered for the Advent Sunday communion service.

They are the friendliest and most hospitable of folk, progressive enough to welcome a woman priest, old-fashioned enough to prefer that the priest celebrates the eucharist with back turned to the congregation.

Elsewhere last weekend, long-serving churchwarden John McBain - "a bit of a squire" it's said - is reputed to know every brick of St Andrew's. His anniversary piece in the Parish News notes that the three lancet windows behind the altar are "said to be the finest example of Victorian grisaille in the diocese".

Whatever Victorian grisaille may be, the recently re-leaded windows help make the 13th century chancel look magnificent.

Fellow warden Val Raper, 25 years in Winston and having loved every minute, announces that the church has received £1,400 from the Winston Follies, an amateur dramatic group which has just completed seven sell-out nights of its old time music hall show in front of coach parties from all over the area.

The thespians, wisest of fools, also gave £1,400 each to the village hall and to the playing field committee. "We love it, the audience love it and we make money; it's Utopia," says Trevor Wood, the now retired bank manager who for years has helped Winston tread the boards.

"It's a lovely place, the sort of community in which everyone gets involved," says Val, and the community spirit extends to the team of helpers who regularly keep the church looking immaculate.

Maureen Alderson, also priest-in-charge of nearby Gainford, came (it will be recalled) after the Diocese of Durham advertised on the situations vacant pages of the Church Times with a photograph of the Tees and some riparian yarns about the vicarage fishing rights.

Though she fishes strictly biblically, Maureen tells her congregation that the Aldersons - "a rare breed" - originated from Swaledale and that there are only 5,000 in the world.

Many of the 5,000, indeed, may still be in that glorious, north-westerly enclave of North Yorkshire. Memory suggests that at least one was once known as Bill Upsteps - even by those addressing his letters - to distinguish him from all the other Bill Aldersons in that purple parish.

Maureen also notes that Advent is a season of hope - "despite the realities of the world around us" - and lights the first of the Advent candles as a sign of it.

Tomorrow they hope for a fine afternoon, expect a big turnout of Winston folk past and present, can be certain of a feast to feed the 5,000 (Aldersons or otherwise) in the village hall thereafter.

Maureen, dashing off to another service in Gainford, has a last look at the view and then turns to admire Chanticleer and his celebrant church. "They must have had some pretty good builders," she says.

* The Rt Rev Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham, leads Evensong at St Andrew's, Winston at 3pm tomorrow. Usual Sunday service is at 9.30am. The Rev Maureen Alderson is on (01325) 730261.