On the gable of the south porch is a 7th or early 8th Century sundial, and on the north wall is a reused Roman stone with the markings "LEG VI" (Sixth Legion) set upside down.
[citation needed] Internally the most notable feature is the tall, narrow chancel arch.
The southern impost of the arch is reminiscent of those in a gateway of the Roman fort at Chesters on Hadrian's Wall.
The chancel arch is of typical Roman form, tall with massive stone jambs, simple chamfered imposts and precisely-cut, radial voussoirs.
In the restoration of 1880 were found a number of delicately carved fragments of cross-shafts[4] of the high quality commonly assigned to the Hexham school.
[1] But the majority of the windows, small and set high in the walls, are original Anglo-Saxon work.
In October 1880 Joseph Lightfoot, Bishop of Durham, came and preached at a service to mark the completion of the restoration.
[6] The first surviving record of a proposal to install electric lighting in the church dates from 1940.
But the Diocesan Advisory Committee objected and the Diocese of Durham did not grant a faculty for the work.
The architect Sir Albert Richardson prepared plans and in 1962 both the parish and the diocese accepted them.
[6] In 1963 St John's church, completed only a century earlier, was inspected and found to need repairs estimated to cost £6,500.
[6] Lee refused the proposal, but in 1964 he retired and the diocese suspended the living and the rural dean was made priest in charge.