Hundreds of people gathered yesterday for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the remains of a 19th Century saint. Neil Macfarlane joined the queues alongside the devout, the lame and the curious.

THE lawns at Darlington’s Carmelite Convent are freshly mown, the windows washed and the sticky front gate repaired.

Hundreds of people wait in the gardens, and even more file patiently next to the walls outside. The nuns are excitedly readying themselves for the arrival of the most important visitor in memory.

Therese of Lisieux would probably have blushed at the fuss being made in her honour.

Unheralded in her lifetime as a nun, it was only after her death aged 24 in 1897 from tuberculosis that her achievements came to light.

Her secretly-written memoirs soon caught the imagination of the Catholic world, and she was fast-tracked to sainthood in less than 30 years.

Her remains are now on tour for the first time, and Catholics everywhere have the chance to get close to her casket.

Many believe she has the power to answer prayers and grant miracles About 6,000 people showed up when the remains were in Liverpool earlier this month. The crowds at Darlington are more modest, but no less enthusiastic.

A bugle sounds as the car carrying her remains glides into the grounds of the chapel, in Nunnery Lane. A spontaneous round of applause breaks out. The mood is joyous. The Sisters are thrilled – one even films the event on a digital camera.

After saying the blessing, Abbot Cuthbert Brogan, the Trimdon-born Abbot of Farnborough, has time for a quick chat. He is delighted to be back in County Durham.

“The Northern Echo – now I know I’ve made it,” he jokes.

“If only my grandmother were alive to see this.”

He describes the visit as a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“St Therese is much-loved by Catholics,” he says. “She wrote that she would send a shower of roses to the earth when she died. It captured the imagination of people everywhere.

“It is a great honour that she has been here. Darlington is plugged into the universal church today.”

Inside the chapel, visitors queue for their moment. Carrying roses and rosaries, some are limping or in wheelchairs.

As they pause next to the casket, they cross themselves or gently reach out to touch the protective glass.

One young woman causes a hold-up as she drops to her knees in prayer. She looks troubled. Tears are in her eyes.

Outside, afterwards, Darlington couple John and Joan Chaplin are chatting about the experience.

“We’re actually Church of England, but we thought it would be interesting to see,”

said Mrs Chaplin.

“It was a real privilege,”

added Mr Chaplin.

One woman stops to explain St Therese’s appeal.

Holding herself upright on crutches, she hopes her prayers will be answered.

“My health is the least of my troubles,” she explains.

“I’ve had terrible family problems.

“I said a prayer asking for a better year next year. Hopefully, St Therese will be able to do something for me.

“The chapel looked beautiful.

St Therese was known as the Little Flower, and the place was beautifully decorated with roses.

“It was very peaceful in there. I feel much better for it.”

■ The relics will be on display at York Minster until noon today, and at Middlesbrough Cathedral from 2pm until noon tomorrow.