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.
| Durham Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham | |
Durham Cathedral from the north-west | |
  Durham Cathedral Location within Durham | |
| Location | Durham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Tradition | Broad church |
| Website | durhamcathedral.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Cult(s) present | Saint Cuthbert & Saint Bede the Venerable |
| Relics held | Saints Cuthbert, Bede & Oswald |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 6 May 1952[1] |
| Architectural type | Cathedral |
| Style | Norman/Romanesque, Gothic |
| Years built | 1093–1133, additions until 1490 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 469 feet (143 m) (interior) |
| Nave width | 81 feet (25 m) (incl. aisles) |
| Nave height | 73 feet (22 m) |
| Choir height | 74 feet (23 m) |
| Number of towers | 3 |
| Tower height | 218 feet (66 m) (central tower) 144 feet (44 m) (western towers) |
| Number of spires | 0 (2 on western towers until 1658) |
| Bells | 10 (full circle) |
| Tenor bell weight | 28 long cwt 0 qr 6 lb (3,142 lb or 1,425 kg) |
| Administration | |
| Province | York |
| Diocese | Durham (since 635 as Lindisfarne, 995 as Durham) |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Paul Butler |
| Dean | vacant (acting: the vice-dean) |
| Precentor | Michael Hampel (vice-dean) |
| Chancellor | Charlie Allen |
| Canon(s) | Simon Oliver (professor) |
| Pastor(s) | Michael Everitt |
| Laity | |
| Director of music | Daniel Cook (organist and master of the choristers) |
| Organist(s) | Joseph Beech (sub-organist) |
| Chapter clerk | Amanda Anderson |
| Lay member(s) of chapter | Cathy Barnes Ivor Stolliday (treasurer) |
| Part of | Durham Castle and Cathedral |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iv, vi |
| Reference | 370 |
| Inscription | 1986 (10th Session) |
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]