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Cathedral News
Read about the latest happenings at Durham Cathedral. Information with short-term relevance, such as road closures or limited Cathedral access, can be found in Notices.
Family Activities
Durham Cathedral has much to offer families. Printed guides for family trails are available for purchase, and children who are able, enjoy climbing the Cathedral Tower. Pre-booked family tours of the Cathedral can be arranged by contacting education@durhamcathedral.co.uk.
Monday 13 – Friday 17 February, Half Term
Sails, Whales and Sea Tales
It may still be frosty and cold but not to early to think of long walks by the sea. Visit the new seaside space in the Education Centre to hear stories of the sea and then make a sea-inspired creation.
All ages, places can be booked in advance
Explorer Backpacks
These fun-filled activity backpacks have gone sea-inspired for half term too! Borrow one and see the sea in the Cathedral. Available from the Information Desk at the back of the Cathedral. Suitable for three to seven year olds.
No booking required.
Saturday 17 March
St Cuthbert-tide
It’s time to celebrate St Cuthbert. Join storyteller Adam Bushnell for a day of stories and activities celebrating the life of one of the North’s greatest saints.
All ages, places can be booked in advance
Tuesday 10 – Friday 13 April
Easter trail
Pick up one of our free Easter trails in the Cathedral. Once you’ve
found everything hand it in at the Information Desk at the back of the Cathedral and receive a mini egg. Suitable for five to eleven year olds.
No booking required.
For more information see www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
To pre-book email education@durhamcathedral.co.uk
or telephone 0191 374 4070
(Posted on Wednesday 18th January 2012)
Do you enjoy singing?
Durham Cathedral Choir
Music to inspire is at the heart of worship at Durham Cathedral. The sung services of Evensong take place six or seven times a week. On Sunday mornings there is sung Matins followed by a full sung Eucharist. This continues throughout the choir year which loosely mirrors the pattern
of the academic year. The Choir also takes part in concerts, recordings, live broadcasts and international tours.
The Choir consists of 20 girl and 20 boy choristers, age seven to 13, who sing separately alongside the 12 gentlemen of the Choir. Choristers typically join the Choir between the ages of seven and nine, and remain until the age of 13. They attend the Chorister School, with fees part-funded by the Cathedral. Further means tested financial support can be provided.
The Choir men are made up of six professional singers and six Choral Scholars; that is students at Durham University who receive a scholarship in return for singing in the Cathedral Choir.
If you know anyone interested in joining the Cathedral Choir as a Chorister or as an adult singer please email music@durhamcathedral.co.uk
The Cathedral Consort of Singers
This is the adult volunteer choir that supplements the work of the Cathedral Choir singing services at times when the Cathedral Choir is not available. It gives concerts, takes part in broadcasts and recordings, and on some occasions joins forces to perform with the Cathedral Choir.
Please email music@durhamcathedral.co.uk for more information.
Durham Cathedral Young Singers
The Cathedral has a successful music outreach programme working with primary schools across the region. Many of the children who take part join the Cathedral’s community choir for 8-13 year olds which rehearses weekly during term time. Children sing music – sacred and secular, classical and contemporary pop, serious and silly embracing all moods and styles but with an emphasis on developing a love of singing. Durham Cathedral Young Singers is part of the Cathedral’s Music Outreach Programme and is lead by Mish Kelly, Director of Music Outreach. It is open to any child who wants to join.
Email musicoutreach@durhamcathedral.co.uk if you know a child who would like to take part.
(Posted on Wednesday 18th January 2012)
Exhibitions in the Cathedral
Tuesday 24 January to Thursday 9 February, The Galilee Chapel
The Beatitudes
A themed exhibition of students’ art work from schools from the RC Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, Catholic Partnerships South.
Friday 17 February to Tuesday 28 February, The Galilee Chapel
Christian Aid, ‘Poverty Over’
A touring exhibition that is visiting Cathedrals all over the country enabling viewers to learn more about the work of Christian Aid and deepen understanding about the issues behind poverty and how they can be overcome. A centrepiece of the exhibition is a specially commissioned sculpture created by British artist Mel Howse that takes poverty as its theme and explores the void between those inside the poverty trap and those privileged enough to be on the outside looking in. This will
be accompanied by photographs that show the work of Christian Aid
and the challenge of its vision to eradicate poverty.
Norman Wade: Originals
Following the success of the recent exhibition in the Galilee Chapel featuring original prints by Norman Wade, work by this highly regarded North East based artist will continue to be on sale in the Cathedral Shop.
Norman’s widow, Moria, generously left all of his remaining artwork to the Cathedral, to be used to support the fabric of this wonderful building that they both loved. The prints include images of the Cathedral and Durham City as well as scenes from across the North of England.
Exhibitions in the Undercroft Restaurant
Located off the Cathedral Cloisters, why not enjoy some tasty food and take the opportunity to look at original artworks for sale.
Friday 2 December to Saturday 28 January
The work of Stuart Fisher
Local artist Stuart Fisher shows his first exhibition at the Cathedral.
See dramatic skies, imposing views of the Cathedral, as well as scenes from around his native Durham and the north east region.
Thursday 1 to Friday 30 March
Art Exhibition by Denise Straughair
Denise is a local artist, born in Sunderland and a resident of Durham since 1997. Her work takes inspiration from both the natural and the built environment, including Durham Cathedral.
Monday 2 to Monday 30 April
Prints by Derek Slater
An exhibition of the County Durham based artist Derek Slater. Derek is making a return visit to the Cathedral after a successful exhibition in 2011. He draws on his 25 years experience in the mining industry to paint atmospheric mining scenes which show the arduous and dangerous jobs undertaken in this subterranean world.
(Posted on Wednesday 18th January 2012)
Star studded fundraiser 'Carols of Light' a great success
A star-studded festive concert held at Durham Cathedral last night produced by Sir Tim Rice is expected to raise £80,000 for two North East charities.
‘Carols of Light’, which featured appearances by luminaries including Joe McElderry, Sir Thomas Allen, Rick Wakeman, Barbara Dickson, Kate Adie OBE and Steve Cram MBE was organised to raise money for SAFC Foundation and the Durham Cathedral Music Endowment Fund.
The event was attended by HRH the Countess of Wessex GCVO, the Royal Patron of SAFC Foundation, who also took to the Lectern for the eighth reading.
SAFC Foundation work with more than 40,000 children and their families every year in education, health, inclusion and sporting programmes across South Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham. Sir Tim Rice is a Trustee of the charity along with Steve Cram MBE and Kate Adie OBE.
The Durham Cathedral Music Endowment Fund aims to keep music at the heart of the Cathedral through music outreach work with Primary Schools in the region working with 800 children per year. The fund also provides bursaries to enable local children the opportunity to be Cathedral Choristers who otherwise may not be able to afford fees for the Chorister School, where all the Cathedral Choristers are educated.
Carols of Light followed the traditional ‘nine lessons and carols’ format with a selection of modern and classic readings and carols with participation from the audience. Sunderland Monkwearmouth Salvation Army Band joined the festivities playing to the audience ahead of the concert itself, and accompanying some of the carols.
Carolyn Ramsbotham, member of Durham Cathedral’s Fundraising Board commented: “A huge thank you must go to all of the performers and speakers, principal sponsors Hargreaves Services ltd, Music Outreach Sponsors the Gillian Dickinson Trust and all of our sponsors without whom this event would not have been possible. It’s truly heartening to know that there is so much support for an event that will bring so much to the region.”
Speaking about the event SAFC Foundation CEO Lesley Spuhler said: “The effort that has gone into ‘Carols of Light’ behind the scenes has been phenomenal and it’s paid off with a spectacular show that hopefully has reminded people of the meaning and responsibility of community. It’s also been a fitting 10th Birthday celebration for SAFC Foundation which people will remember for a long time.”
As well as performances from some of the country’s best known stars children from four local Primary Schools took to the stage to sing a Carol that they wrote themselves. The Carol, ‘If I Could Wish For One Thing’ was produced as part of a music outreach project which aimed to promote creativity within young people in the North East funded by the Gillian Dickinson Trust. The Cathedral Choristers and the Cathedral’s community choir for 8-13 year olds also took part.
The Banks Group, Northumbrian Water, The Esh Group, The Vardy Foundation and Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd are partner sponsors of Carols of Light. Barclays Corporate, BT, Dickinson Dees, Durham University, Gentoo, Northern Rock, The Prince Bishop’s Shopping Centre, Redbox Design Group, She’s Gott It, Sunderland AFC, TSG, the University of Sunderland, Purcell Miller Tritton LLP and Waterstons are associate sponsors. The Esh Charitable Trust also supported Carols of Light.
(Posted on Friday 9th December 2011)
Choral Scholarships - Autumn 2012
For more information, and an application form, please contact the
Music Department Administrator
0191 386 42 66
Closing date: Monday 16 January 2012
(Posted on Tuesday 15th November 2011)