What is Durham Cathedral?

Durham Cathedral is a Christian church of the Anglican Communion, the historic shrine of St Cuthbert, the seat of the Bishop of Durham, and a living centre of prayer, pilgrimage and presence in north-east England. We welcome all people, whatever their faith, to the Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham.

The Cathedral aims to:

• be a sign of the presence of God in the world as sacred space and through the daily offering of praise and prayer
• live out the meaning of Christian community as a place of hospitality and sanctuary
• bear witness to the gospel through evangelism, service, environmental and social responsibility and by practical care for those in need
• encourage and support pilgrimage and spiritual formation
• provide a focus for adult and children's Christian education, and for theological reflection and intellectual engagement in the region in partnership with the University and Diocese of Durham
• support the mission of the Bishop and Diocese of Durham, and to collaborate ecumenically with the churches of the region
• conserve and develop the fabric and historical artefacts of the Cathedral and its ancillary buildings as part of a World Heritage Site, and to interpret its significance to visitors
• celebrate and promote human creativity through music and the arts
• promote the welfare of the city, the county and the north-east region in partnership with other religious and secular agencies