A DARLINGTON church held an evening of song and festivity to celebrate 150 years since its renovation.

ST Cuthbert's, in Darlington town centre, underwent a major restoration project by renowned architect Sir George Gilbert Scott which saved the spire from collapse.

December marks the 150th anniversary since the restoration of the Grade I listed building, and celebrations took place at the church earlier yesterday (SUNDAY, NOV 22).

Reverend Robert Williamson, the vicar of St Cuthbert's, said: "If the restoration hadn’t taken place the church may not have been with us today and certainly not in the form it is now. It had deteriorated so much and was so neglected.

"The vicar at the time, Reverend Garancieres Pearson, was a remarkable man. He was a businessman in Peru and a vicar in the 1860s right through the restoration. My sympathy goes out to him!"

Though the church has already undergone restoration, it has had some more improvements recently, including a new boiler to replacing the old, ailing system.

Reverend Williamson added that there were plans to make the church's entrance - which currently has steep steps - more wheelchair friendly to "provide extra access to the community".

In honour of previous restorations, the anniversary celebrations were attended by stonemasons and other craftsmen and women who had worked on the church in the past.

Also in attendance was the Bishop of Durham, Reverend Paul Butler and the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Tom Nutt.

The acapella Rock Festival Choir from Alnwick in Northumberland joined forces with St Cuthbert's Choir for Festal Evensong, which was followed by mulled wine.

There was also an exhibition telling the story of work carried out on the church in the past, along with plans for the future.

Guests were able to buy limited edition posters telling the story of the rise of Christianity in Northumberland, with prints by Northumbrian calligrapher, Tom Fleming.

All proceeds from the posters went to the church's building fund.