THE life of one of the region’s most famous saints has been celebrated over the weekend.

It is nine centuries since St Godric embarked on a lonely existence at Finchale, near Durham, where later monks built the Priory which remains as ruins today.

He had been a sailor and trader and visited Jerusalem before he saw a vision of St Cuthbert at Holy Island and devoted his life to Christian service.

Godric lived at Finchale for about 60 years, only occasionally accepting approved visitors.

His reputation as a wise and holy man grew and it was said Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket and Pope Alexander III sought his advice.

Although he was never formally canonised, his name lives on in churches and schools across the North-East.

He died on May 21 in 1170 and, on Saturday, a service at Finchale Abbey was attended by church leaders from across the region, including the Right Reverend Paul Butler, the Bishop of Durham; Father Martin Stempczyk, the Vicar General of the RC Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle; and former Methodist Conference President Rev Ruth Gee.

Bishop Paul said: “It is great that we can celebrate Godric because he was known as a man of prayer and was consulted by other people about prayer. To worship on the site was a fantastic way of reminding ourselves about the importance of prayer.”

Sherburn Hill Salvation Army Band provided the music and children from St Godric’s RC Primary and Blue Coat CofE Primary schools in Durham City also performed.

Joanne Thornes, regional officer for the ecumenical body North-East Churches Acting Together, which organised the service, said: “The service celebrated the 900th anniversary of the arrival of Godric and gave the church leaders an opportunity to spend some time reflecting and focusing on what our churches should be praying about for the North-East.”

Parts of St Godric’s life will be re-enacted and his songs performed at Heatherycleugh Parish Church in Weardale, on Sunday, May 31, at 10.30am.