English Churches - County Durham
St Giles Church, Bowes
Two ancient fonts
It is a small, low church with a simple bell cote at the west end. The nave dates from the mid C12th, the chancel was added in the C13th and the transepts in the C14th. Like so many churches it was extensively restored in the C19th when the porch was added.
Above the doorway is a much older and very eroded carving of the crucifixion with the figures of the Virgin and St John.
The church was firmly locked when we visited and there was no information about a key holder. It’s only claim to fame seems to be that it has two fonts. One is a large C12th circular stone bowl with an incised zig-zag round the top. It sits on C13th stem with four shafts, which may have belonged to the other font. This is smaller with a C13th stone bowl decorated with three carved scrolls with leaves. It stands on a base from a Roman altar. These pictures were taken in 1983.
