THE patron saint of healing has made a full recovery after undergoing “surgery” at the hands of a caring conservator.

A 4ft-high statue of St Giles which stands above the entrance porch of the 900-year-old St Giles Church, in Gilesgate, Durham City, has been restored to its original Victorian glory in a seven-day operation led by Wolsingham-based art restorer Annie Holdsworth.

Mrs Holdsworth repaired the statue’s crumbling face and gave it a new coat of paint, restoring its original colours following post-war repairs now thought to have been inaccurate.

She said: “It’s an elegantly carved statue and when you get up close you can see a lot of the detail that was obscured by the previous paint job.”

St Giles lived as a hermit in 7th Century France. The church was consecrated in June 1112. The statue dates from 1876.

It depicts St Giles in white and gold robes, holding a gold and wooden staff and a red and gold Bible and standing next to a deer, said to be his only companion during his years of solitude.

Next to him are the crests of Lord Londonderry and the see, or diocese, of Durham.

Rev Canon Dr Alan Bartlett, the church’s vicar, said: “The church is a familiar landmark and I hope people passing by will get a buzz out of seeing the restored figure and the sense of life and welcome it communicates.”
Its restoration was aided by a £2,000 donation from the City of Durham Freemen.