The Friends of Durham Cathedral

About The Friends

The Friends of Durham Cathedral was founded in 1933 to support the Dean and Chapter in caring for the Cathedral and its precincts and has supported over 100 major projects to date. These range from restoration of Prior Castell's clock, the organ and medieval wall paintings to the provision of new heating, lighting and sound systems.

Examples of projects in the past include payment in 1935-38 for the replacement of the woodwork in the Quire, and in 2005 they granted up to £45,000 for the provision of new nave choir stalls. In 1948-50 Friends funded the restoration of St Cuthbert's shrine and purchased the Ninian Comper tester which hangs over the shrine. In 1971 a grant was made towards re-roofing the Quire and Chapel of the Nine Altars and in 2005 we committed £75,000 towards repair of the Refectory (library) roof.

The Friends' organisation has been involved over several years in provision of improved access and other facilities for disabled people. In 1991 we purchased the Touch-and-Hearing Centre for the blind; in 1993 a chair-lift was purchased for Prior's Hall and in 2005 we committed £60,000 towards improved access in the Cathedral and claustral buildings.

In addition to these major one-off projects the Friends make annual grants towards the care of the river-banks surrounding the peninsula and towards the education programme. Almost all the material and design work of the Broderers is funded by the Friends' annual grant; the new Margaret Altar was largely funded by the Friends. The Cathedral library also receives an annual grant. In 1951 the Friends purchased a manuscript of Symeon of Durham, twelfth-century monk-historian; recently we were able to make a contribution to the purchase of a thirteenth-century bible which had belonged to Durham Monastery and an early printed book of 1512 which once belonged to Bishop Tunstall.

The Social Side

Membership of the Friends gives free access to all those parts of the Cathedral for which there is a charge, for example the Tower, the Treasures of St Cuthbert Exhibition. There are regular lectures on aspects of Cathedral history given by nationally- and internationally-known scholars. There are regular outings and in 2005 we organised our first overseas trip with a pilgrimage to Burgundy. It is hoped that another pilgrimage can be arranged in 2007. In January 2006 we held an eighteenth-century dinner using recipes from a book written by an eighteenth-century Dean's cook. The Christmas event and the Friends' Festival in June are always extremely popular events.

How do we raise the money?

• Through subscriptions
• Through fund-raising events
• Through donations and legacies

Become a Friend

We have over 3,700 members from all over the world. They are united in their desire to support and maintain this 900-year old Cathedral. We need still more people to join us in our important work. In the past ten years our members have contributed £700,000 to projects in the Cathedral. 2008 will be our seventy-fifth birthday and some exciting events are planned. Why not become a member now and join us?

How to join the Friends

You can join the Friends by completing the membership form (student version) and sending it to: Friends of Durham Cathedral, The College, Durham DH1 3EH. Telephone: 0191 384 5266

Minimum Subscription Rates

Membership Category	Minimum fee
Single Friends	£15.00 per annum
Joint Friends (two people at same address)	£20.00 per annum
Junior Friends (under 18 years old)	£3.00 per annum
Student Friends (Student card to be shown)	£5.00 per annum
Individual Life Membership	£150.00
Joint Life Membership	£200.00

The membership card gives its holder free access to the Monks' Dormitory, Audio Visual Exhibition, The Treasurers of St Cuthbert Exhibition and the Tower. Students will need also to show their Student Card at all locations.

All Friends (other than Juniors) are entitled to a yearly report and two newsletters with invitations to the annual Friends’ Festival, concerts, lectures and other events.

Standing Order

Paying by Standing Order assists the Friends by ensuring regular payments and relieves members of the need to remember the renewal date.

Cheques/postal orders

Cheques/postal orders to be made payable to "Friends of Durham Cathedral".

Gift Aid Declaration

If you pay tax at the basic or higher rate, you can make your subscriptions and donations worth more by completing the Gift Aid Declaration. At no extra cost to you, the Friends can claim the tax relating to the amount given by you from the Inland Revenue.

Legacies

Bequests have considerably helped the work of the Friends. Such bequests can be included in your will.

The Friends is a Registered Charity, No. 519110.