Durham Cathedral is delighted to announce the appointment of the Revd James Shelton as the first Director of the Cuthbert Centre for Pilgrimage and Prayer.
The Cuthbert Centre for Pilgrimage and Prayer is a key initiative within Durham Cathedral’s Vision 2033, and is being created to enable the Cathedral to build on and expand its capacity to encourage and welcome pilgrims and people exploring prayer. As the first Director James will oversee the creation of new facilities around the Chapel of the Holy Cross and lead on setting up the Centre to resource pilgrimage and prayer across the region and beyond.
James is currently coming to the end of a curacy in South Norfolk where he has pioneered creative ways of enabling people to engage with ancient pilgrimage routes. Before ordination he had a career in marketing and communications, including four years at Norwich Cathedral. He has worked for the Church of England’s National Evangelism and Discipleship Team and also spent a year as part of the Community of St Anselm at Lambeth Palace.
Welcoming the appointment, Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham, said,
‘I am delighted to have James joining the team in this new and exciting role. Durham Cathedral has been a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of years, and the witness of St Cuthbert speaks of the joy to be found in the life of prayer. The Cuthbert Centre will enable us to increase our capacity to invite more people of all backgrounds to try out pilgrimage and prayer for themselves and I am so pleased that James is going to bring his wonderful blend of vision and experience to enable the Centre to start in the best possible way.’
Charlie Allen, Canon Chancellor, added,
‘The past few years have seen exciting developments relating to pilgrimage and prayer across the North East, notably the launch of The Northern Saints Trails, the Camino Ingles, and Durham Cathedral’s online Community of Prayer. James’ presence as Director of the Cuthbert Centre will enable us to build on these initiatives and to expand the invitation to prayer and pilgrimage in new and life-giving ways. We look forward to his arrival and all he will bring to this new role.’
James Shelton commented,
‘I am humbled at the privilege of being called to serve in this pioneering new role, inspired by St Cuthbert’s own life. We are living through a resurgence of interest in pilgrimage, both within the Church and society more broadly, and I am excited about the contribution that the Cuthbert Centre aims to make in welcoming, inspiring and resourcing pilgrimage and prayer within Durham Cathedral and across the region.’
James will be taking up the role in the summer.
