The remains of a famous saint are currently on a nationwide tour, but a Catholic church in Barnoldswick has its own “relics” of the revered French nun.

A casket containing the thigh and foot bones of St Thérèse of Lisieux, a French Carmelite nun who died of tuberculosis in 1897, is visiting 28 sites in England and Wales, including Yorkshire churches, York Minster and Leeds Cathedral.

But relics of St Thérèse, described by Pope Pius X as “the greatest saint of modern times”, are also on display at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Barnoldswick.

Although the town is not part of the tour, which runs until October 16, St Joseph’s two relics have been with the church for several generations, said Father Simon Winn.

He said it was likely a donation from a member of the church would have secured the relics – which include fragments of bone and a lock of hair from St Thérèse – from the Catholic Church in Rome.

The Church defines a relic as either part of the physical remains of a holy person after his or her death, or an object which had been in contact with their body.

St Thérèse’s relics – which have been credited with promoting healing and reconciliation – are likely to draw huge crowds during their month-long tour.

Although St Thérèse died at the young age of 24, she came to wider attention after her inspirational autobiography was published.

Her influence is widespread. Mother Teresa took her name from Thérèse and Princess Diana was known on occasion to light a candle at her statue.

Her remains have already been to such places as Iraq, Lebanon and Bosnia as well as the USA, Russia, and Australia. They were taken to Baghdad seven years ago in the hope of averting the Iraq conflict.

In 1997, on the centenary of her death, Pope John Paul II proclaimed St Thérèse one of the “Doctors of the Church” – saints whose message is seen by the Church as having a special and universal importance.

The Barnoldswick church now has its two relics in cases on the main altar.

They had originally been on display next to a statue of St Thérèse in the church.