---
title: "St Giles, Durham"
description: "Located in Durham, County Durham. Built Hospital chapel founded 1112; north nave wall c.1114; chancel late 12th century; tower 13th and 15th centuries; south aisle c.1873. Diocese of Durham. Grade I. Norman and later medieval; Victorian aisle style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","County Durham","Durham","Grade I","Norman","Gilesgate"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-giles-durham"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:36:36.979Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T16:00:06.382Z"
location: "Durham, County Durham"
country: "England"
county: "County Durham"
town: "Durham"
address: "Gilesgate, Durham, County Durham, DH1 1QQ"
postcode: "DH1 1QQ"
built: "Hospital chapel founded 1112; north nave wall c.1114; chancel late 12th century; tower 13th and 15th centuries; south aisle c.1873"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Giles"]
diocese: "Durham"
grade: "I"
style: "Norman and later medieval; Victorian aisle"
materials: "Sandstone, mostly coursed and squared, with ashlar dressings; porch of snecked sandstone"
website: "http://www.stgilesdurham.org.uk/"
openingHours: "During school term open 9am to 12noon Tuesday and Thursday, Wednesday 9.30am to 11am."
parish: "Durham St Giles"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1159991"
gridReference: "NZ 283 426"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas"
---

# St Giles, Durham

St Giles is a Grade I parish church on Gilesgate, Durham, in the Diocese of Durham. It began as the chapel of the hospital of St Giles founded by Bishop Ranulf Flambard in 1112.

## Overview

Historic England records part of the hospital of St Giles founded in 1112: the north nave wall about 1114, a late-twelfth-century chancel, a tower of the early thirteenth and early fifteenth centuries, and a south aisle, vestry and north porch of about 1873. Fabric is sandstone, mostly coursed and squared, with ashlar dressings. The four-stage west tower has clasping buttresses, a restored Perpendicular west window and pinnacled battlements. The later chancel has shafted round-headed north and south windows with zigzag moulding. The north nave wall retains small round-headed windows; massive buttresses mark the original chancel bay.

The Victoria County History notes that the hospital later moved to Kepier by the Wear; the church remained as the parish church on the ridge east of the cathedral. In 1143 William Cumin fortified the church during the struggle for the bishopric. The building is a landmark above the Wear, its tower visible in views of the city.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1159991](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1159991)
- [VCH Durham: St Giles](https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/durham/vol3/pp182-190)
- [St Giles Durham](http://www.stgilesdurham.org.uk/)