A GAINFORD church has installed five interpretive panels to teach people about the historic building after receiving about £10,000 in grants.

The Church of St Mary received the funds from The Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership, the Parish Council, Gainford Village Charity, their patrons at Trinity College, Cambridge and the Allchurches Trust as well as legacies from Mary Thorpe and Nancy Deas.

Known as the mother church of Teesdale, the panels aim to help people understand the building both as it is seen now and how it has changed down the ages since it entered written history in the 8th Century.

The idea came from a temporary display for the Heritage Open Days almost four years ago as well as a suggestion from the Chair of Gainford and Langton Parish Council that more visitors could be attracted to Gainford if the church was open and developed as a hub.

Designer, Christina Unwin, created the panels after completing a similar project at Escomb Saxon Church.

The boards are now in place and a prayer space has also been created which is set to be dedicated to Saint Cuthbert.

An exhibition space has also been set up to allow both locals and visitors to enjoy the new panels which will be available to view in the church daily, from 9am to 4pm.

The Bishop of Jarrow, Mark Bryant, is now set to join parishioners in dedicating the new works with a short service in the church on Saturday, May 2, at 3pm.

Church warden, Geoff Taylor, said: “We are delighted to see the panels after such a lengthy preparation period.

“They have been very well received both by the locals and visitors.”