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Durham Cathedral

Church in Durham, County Durham, England / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham,[2][3][5] commonly known as Durham Cathedral[6][7][8] and home of the Shrine of St Cuthbert,[9] is a cathedral in the city of Durham, County Durham, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Durham, the fourth-ranked bishop in the Church of England hierarchy.

Quick facts: Durham Cathedral, Location, Country, Denomina...
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham
Durham_MMB_02_Cathedral.jpg
Durham Cathedral from the north-west
Durham Cathedral is located in Durham, England
Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
Location within Durham
54°46′25″N 1°34′34″W
LocationDurham
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
Previous denominationRoman Catholic
TraditionBroad church
Websitedurhamcathedral.co.uk
History
StatusCathedral
Cult(s) presentSaint Cuthbert & Saint Bede the Venerable
Relics heldSaints Cuthbert, Bede & Oswald
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade I listed
Designated6 May 1952[1]
Architectural typeCathedral
StyleNorman/Romanesque, Gothic
Years built1093–1133, additions until 1490
Specifications
Length469 feet (143 m) (interior)
Nave width81 feet (25 m) (incl. aisles)
Nave height73 feet (22 m)
Choir height74 feet (23 m)
Number of towers3
Tower height218 feet (66 m) (central tower)
144 feet (44 m) (western towers)
Number of spires0 (2 on western towers until 1658)
Bells10 (full circle)
Tenor bell weight28 long cwt 0 qr 6 lb (3,142 lb or 1,425 kg)
Administration
ProvinceYork
DioceseDurham (since 635 as Lindisfarne, 995 as Durham)
Clergy
Bishop(s)Paul Butler
DeanDesignate- Philip Plyming
PrecentorMichael Hampel (vice-dean)
ChancellorCharlie Allen
Canon(s)Simon Oliver (professor)
Pastor(s)Michael Everitt
Laity
Director of musicDaniel Cook (organist and master of the choristers)
Organist(s)Joseph Beech (sub-organist)
Chapter clerkAmanda Anderson
Lay member(s) of chapterCathy Barnes
Ivor Stolliday (treasurer)
Part ofDurham Castle and Cathedral
CriteriaCultural: ii, iv, vi
Reference370
Inscription1986 (10th Session)
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Building of the present Norman-era cathedral started in 1093, replacing the city's previous 'White Church'.[10] In 1986 the cathedral and Durham Castle were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[11] Durham Cathedral's relics include: Saint Cuthbert's, transported to Durham by Lindisfarne monks in the 800s; Saint Oswald's head and the Venerable Bede's remains.

The Durham Dean and Chapter Library contains: sets of early printed books, some of the most complete in England; the pre-Dissolution monastic accounts and three copies of Magna Carta.

From 1080 until 1836, the Bishop of Durham held the powers of an Earl Palatine. In order to protect the Anglo-Scottish border, powers of an earl included exercising military, civil, and religious leadership. The cathedral walls formed part of Durham Castle, the chief seat of the Bishop of Durham.[12]

There are daily Church of England services at the cathedral, Durham Cathedral Choir sing daily except Mondays and holidays, receiving 727,367 visitors in 2019.[13]