The church was constructed as the hospital chapel of the
Hospital of St Giles outside the city walls. It was dedicated on St Barnabas' Day, June 1112 by
Bishop Flambard to "the honour of God and
St Giles".
Godric of Finchale was a doorkeeper as St. Giles before moving to Finchale to become a hermit. The church became caught up in an 1140 dispute over the bishopric of Durham following the usurpation of the diocese by
William Cumin, Chancellor of King
David I of Scotland.
William of St. Barbara, the rightly elected Bishop, was forced to retreat to, and fortify, the church after his abortive entry into Durham was beaten back by Cumin's men. In response Cumin's men destroyed the hospital, The current font is believed to date from this time. The church was appropriated to
Kepier Hospital which acted as
rector, receiving
tithes and with the
advowson (right to appoint a
vicar), appointing a parochial chaplain to minister to the needs of the parish. Extensive building and restoration work was also carried out during the 13th and 15th centuries. The Revd Canon Dr Alan B. Bartlett is the current vicar of St Giles since Summer 2008. The Rev’d Abbey Hughes is curate. ==References==