[NY 87807796] St Giles' Church. (1)

Built about the end of the 11th century and restored during 1883-4, during which a barbed and tanged arrowhead (now in Blackgate Museum Newcastle) was found in the foundations of the new tower. A 7th-8th century memorial stone recovered at the same time is inscribed with a latin cross and the letters O.R.P.E. (2)(3)(4)

In normal use. The memorial stone is displayed on the north wall of the chancel. (5)

9/15 Church of St. Giles
Grade II listed building.
Parish church. 12th century restored 1884. Dressed stone and random rubble. Welsh slate roof. Nave, chancel, west porch and south-west tower. Chancel north wall and nave masonry is 12th century. Most other external features Victorian including west porch with pointed-arched doorway, multifoil rose window in west gable, and south-west tower which is a square vestry on ground floor, becoming octagonal with lancet bell openings and short octagonal spire.
Three-bay nave has three-light stepped cusped lancets on south side. Nave and chancel north walls blank. Three plain stepped lancets on chancel south side. East window is three stepped lancets under hoodmoulds.
Blocked priest's door and north door, probably early 17th century, are square-headed with chamfered surround.
Interior has 12th century unmoulded chancel arch on plain chamfered imposts. Pointed arch to blocked priest's door. East window has shafts and shaft rings. Inscribed stone on chancel north wall, 8th century, with a cross and letters ORPE. Several medieval coffin lids built into west porch, also a plain medieval stoup. (6)

Set into the north wall of the nave is part of a cross-shaft(?). In good condition, only one face is visible. The face is raised and dressed smooth. The only decoration is a roughly incised rectangle. Could be pre-Conquest, but date uncertain.
A memorial stone or grave-marker of the 8th century is set into the north wall of the chancel, inside. It was found built into a disused south doorway of the nave during alterations in 1884. Chipped on two edges. The face and sides are dressed smooth, only the face is carved. There is a cross with rectangular hooked ends standing on a rectangular base, in the quadrants formed by the cross are the letters:
O.| R.
P.| E.
Probably spells a single personal name, ORPE.
Also set in the north wall of the nave is a circular grave-marker or dedication cross, in two pieces, now reunited. Diameter 0.325m. It has split diagonally and is badly mended. Only one face visible. Second half of 11th century(?).
A round-headed grave marker lies on a ledge on the north side of the porch, inside. Measures 0.324m x 0.324m x 0.128m deep. Broken at the base but in good condition. Relief cross carved on the broad faces. Served as head- and foot-stones. Probably second half of 11th century. (7)

Church contains a series of war memorials as:
* a three-light stained glass window inscribed "TO THE HONOUR AND GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF WILLIAM GILBERT DIED 3RD AUGUST 1902, AGED 17 YEARS, AND JOHN THOMAS, KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE 20TH APRIL 1918 AGED 28 YEARS. SON OF RALPH AND ADAMENIA HUTCHINSON OF BIRTLEY SHIELDS".
* a white marble wall-mounted tablet inscribed "TO/ THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ JOHN THOMAS HUTCHINSON/ OF BIRTLEY SHIELDS AND OF/ THE AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCES/ WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN/ FRANCE 24TH APRIL 1918/ AGED 28".
* a wooden battlefield cross with metal plaque inscribed "SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF/ CAPTAIN/ B. ALLGOOD/ 1ST ROYAL IRISH RIFLES/ KILLED IN ACTION 7TH DEC/ 1914".
* a wall-mounted plain tablet inscribed "IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ JOHN HENRY SMITH, R.A.S.C./ OF THIS PARISH/ WHO DIED OF WOUNDS/ AT FUKA, EGYPT, JUNE 1942,/ AGED 35 YEARS".
* a wall-mounted bronze plaque edged in pink marble inscribed "AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF/ PTE. WILLIAM ERNEST ROBSON/ OF LOW SHIELD GREEN/ WHO FELL IN ACTION IN FRANCE/ 5TH NOVEMBER 1916/ AGED 35 YEARS". (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)