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.

City of Culture Update

Durham Cathedral wishes Sheffield, Derry/Londonderry, Birmingham and Norwich every success with their bid to become the City of Culture 2013.

The Cathedral looks forward to continuing to work with its partners as the City and County develop its cultural programme.

Highlights for the Durham World Heritage Site include the return of the Lumiere Festival of Light and the temporary return of one of the world's greatest treasures - the Lindisfarne Gospels. The Cathedral will continue to celebrate the English Choral Tradition through the work of its musicians alongside stewardship of its many treasures and collections.

(Posted on Tuesday 2nd March 2010)

The Cathedral Shop is now open - we value your support

Durham Cathedral's shop reopened on 1st March 2010 in a temporary space just off the Cathedral Cloisters. It is now managed and staffed directly by the Cathedral and is a new venture.

The arrangements from 1st March are short term as the Cathedral looks to open a larger shop in due course. A feasibility study has just been commissioned by the Cathedral, Durham University and Durham City Vision, to determine best use of the assets on the Durham World Heritage Site. Provision of retail is part of this study and recommendations will be made regarding the best location for a permanent shop.

The shop stocks a selection of gifts, books and church supplies.

(Posted on Monday 1st March 2010)

Holy Week Retreat at Durham Cathedral

Holy Week provides an opportunity to focus our attention on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ which culminated with his death and ultimate resurrection from the dead which the Church celebrates on Easter Day. Holy Week is one of the most significant times in the Church year and we invite you to share it with us at Durham Cathedral by participating in our worship and a special programme of retreat addresses, pilgrimage and guided study. Accommodation is provided by St Chad's College, opposite the Cathedral, and our observance of Holy Week will be led by members of the Cathedral Chapter.

A retreat programme will be provided from Monday morning until after Evening Prayer on Good Friday. Anyone wishing to stay until Easter Day is welcome to do so. The week is shaped by the regular worship at the Cathedral and includes:

Monday & Wednesday: a retreat address from a member of the Cathedral Chapter; an opportunity for engagement with the themes of Holy Week through an art pilgrimage, manuscripts from the Library, lectio divina; quiet time; Sung Compline and address by Canon Professor Mark McIntosh.

Maundy Thursday: a retreat address; optional attendance at the diocesan Chrism Eucharist; quiet time; Maundy Thursday liturgy including Durham's unique Judas Cup ceremony, Stripping of the Altar and Vigil in the Galilee Chapel.

Good Friday: the Liturgy of the Three Hours; Evening Prayer for Good Friday at the pieta.

Holy Saturday: A day of quiet at the Cathedral. Time for quiet reflection or a pilgrimage visit in the region * St Chad's College can provide ideas.

Easter Day: The Dawn Vigil with Baptism and Confirmation followed by breakfast; Easter Day services.

This week is a time for spiritual renewal. Participants are invited to share in the Cathedral's observance of Holy Week and to use the remaining time in a way that best meets their needs. A member of the Cathedral community will be available at certain times for personal conversation should that be helpful.

Accommodation at St Chad's is in student study bedrooms, some en-suite but a few minutes walk along North Bailey and some with shared bathrooms but opposite the Cathedral. Please indicate on your form if you would prefer to be close to the Cathedral or need a ground floor room, but in both cases there is some walking involved. As befits Holy Week, the food will be simple but good.

For more information or to book (either residentially or non-residentially), contact James Randle on j.d.randle@durham.ac.uk or write to Conference Department, St Chad's College, 18 North Bailey, Durham, DR1 3RH. People on the Cathedral Community Roll should indicate this when booking to receive a discount.

(Posted on Monday 22nd February 2010)

Cathedral Chapter Membership - a message from the Dean

Dr David Hunt, one of the lay members originally appointed to the newly-constituted Cathedral Chapter in 2001, retires in April. Nine years is a generous time to give to a demanding role such as this, and David has been unstinting in his contribution to the life of the Chapter. Alongside the governance of the Cathedral and his participation in the daily services, he has been Chapter Librarian and therefore the guardian of one of the Cathedral's most precious assets. On behalf of my Chapter colleagues and the Cathedral community I should like to thank him very warmly indeed. It is good news that David will not be leaving Durham and will (we hope) continue to be much involved in Cathedral life.

(Posted on Thursday 18th February 2010)

Michael Ramsey in Durham

To mark the dedication, in September 2010, of a stained glass window in memory of Michael Ramsey who was at various times Canon Professor at Durham Cathedral, Bishop of Durham and then spent part of his retirement in Durham after serving as Archbishop of Canterbury, we hope to publish a collection of people's recollections of the Ramseys' years in Durham. If you, or anyone you know, has stories or memories of the Ramseys in Durham, please send them to Canon Rosalind Brown at the Cathedral either via diane.mcilroy@durhamcathedral.co.uk or by post at the Chapter Office, The College, Durham, DH1 3EH. Please include your name and contact details, although the latter will not be published.

(Posted on Thursday 21st January 2010)