What's On

Undercroft Restaurant
A selling exhibition of framed 360° photographs of Durham Cathedral and Durham City by Owen Weightman. After exchanging his engineering career for a more tranquil lifestyle, Owen now works with 360° and 3D photography and video. As a side project, he has recently created a set of spherical panoramic images which have been stereographically projected to create interesting, unusual images of Durham and its majestic Cathedral.

After a period of ‘misguided stewardships and carelessness’, the 19th century was a time for restoration and redevelopment at Durham Cathedral. The goal was to make the cathedral more welcoming to worshippers, pilgrims and tourists alike. This temporary exhibition in Open Treasure, the cathedral's museum, explores some of the ways this was achieved and the people involved who helped to shape the cathedral as we know it today.

Open Treasure is Durham Cathedral's award-winning interactive museum for all ages. Step into the Monks’ Dormitory to discover the sights, smells and sounds of a medieval monastery, learn something new in our ever-changing exhibitions and marvel at the treasures of St Cuthbert in the Great Kitchen. Dressing up activities bring Durham Cathedral’s history to life and kids will love our explorer backpacks, exhibition trails and much more!

St Chad's College, Durham University, celebrates it's annual college day with a service at Durham Cathedral. The preacher is the Archbishop of York.

Does your child love to sing? Enjoy an afternoon making music with the Durham Cathedral Choristers, enjoying craft activities and getting a taste of life at The Chorister School, an 'excellent' school at the heart of Durham's World Heritage Site.

Boys and girls in Years 2-6 invited to this free event.

Durham University Chamber Choir present a concert of highly intimate, and very particular music, exploring the theme of ‘Longings and Lamentations’. The programme includes some of the most profound music in Europe’s rich choral heritage and includes works by Hildegard Von Bingen, Perotin, Lukaszewski and MacMillan.

A unique evening of sitar, orchestral and choral music, presented by Opera North in association with GemArts.

Conducted by Harish Shankar, the Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North join forces for this wide-ranging and powerful concert. At its heart is a newly commissioned concerto from composer and sitar virtuoso Jasdeep Singh Degun, in which the complex rhythms and gorgeous melodies of Indian classical raag strike up conversations with the orchestra, as the sitar by turns draws in, creates quickfire exchange with and finally comes harmoniously together with the orchestra.

The concerto is paired with the full force of the Chorus of Opera North, whose programme includes the delicately beautiful Humming Chorus from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Purcell’s exquisite Dido’s Lament, extracts from La traviata and The Magic Flute, and concludes with Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music.

The Dunelm Consort present a concert of Renaissance madrigals, focusing upon the works of Monteverdi and Gesualdo in the stunning acoustic of Durham Cathedral’s Chapter House. 

The Rev'd Canon Professor Alison Grant Milbank, Professor of Theology and Literature at the University of Nottingham, asks ‘Can the Church Contribute to a Post-Brexit Britain?’ and revisits the Malvern Conference of 1941 in this year's Hensley Henson Lecture on the Church in Politics.

Durham University Choral Society return to Durham Cathedral to present Mendelssohn’s Elijah, in partnership with Durham Opera Ensemble. The Musical Director is Nathan Smith.

Engage your child with the great outdoors in tailored sessions on Durham Cathedral’s woodlands and riverbanks. See your child develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences with a difference.

Sessions take place on Fridays from 13 March to 27 March from 9.45am-11.45am.

A chance to experience a walking tour of Durham Cathedral's historic woodlands and riverbanks guided by an expert walk leader. Starts from the cathedral visitor desk.

Tour of Open Treasure, led by a British Sign Language interpreter and a Gallery Attendant.

This concert includes performances from the DUPO's chamber orchestra, with the full orchestral forces coming together in the second half to perform Bruckner’s Symphony no. 4 in E flat major, the ‘Romantic’.

A talk from Julia Stapleton, organised by the Friends of Durham Cathedral to conclude their lecture series.

Celebrate with us the saint who lies at the heart of what Durham Cathedral is all about: St Cuthbert, whose final resting place caused this great cathedral to rise on the promontory in the bend of the River Wear and set in motion the formation of this great city and its surrounding region. A special service sung by the Cathedral Choir together with Newcastle Cathedral Choir takes us on a pilgrimage to St Cuthbert’s Shrine and enables to thank God for our inheritance of faith.

An opportunity to explore the wonder of Durham Cathedral at night, and to be one of the first to experience LIGHT, a stunning immersive art installation by artist Chris Levine with sound composed by Will Todd, recorded by The Sixteen. This event launches Pilgrimage 2020 and celebrates the opening of the Northern Saints Trails. The art installation will be available for all to enjoy throughout the rest of the year.

A free event - everyone's welcome.

A busy day of free activities in the cathedral to celebrate our greatest saint. 

Free tours, a local producers' market in the Cloister, children’s story-telling, object-handling and activities for children 3+, and more... 

Walk the annual pilgrimage from Chester-le-Street to Durham Cathedral, organised by the Northumbrian Association and joined at the beautiful Finchale Abbey by the Friends of the Finchale Camino.  All meet in Durham Market place for the procession to the cathedral. You can walk the full route or join in the final procession. The route is symbolic of the ancient journey of St Cuthbert to his final resting place in Durham Cathedral, where your arrival will be heralded with much celebration!
 

An opportunity to visit Durham Cathedral’s beautiful 17th-century Refectory Library, not usually open to visitors, to see a stunning display of natural history books from the Cathedral’s collections covering a span of 400 years. These books encompass both scientific and artistic expertise, as naturalists sought to accurately study and record the natural world – whether the flora and fauna around them, or exotic species from afar. From Conrad Gessner’s first great illustrated encyclopaedia of the natural world to Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’, with dinosaurs, sunflowers and a dodo along the way – there will be something for everyone.

Boys from Shakespeare’s school, King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon, have recreated a sixteenth century boys company to perform repertoire written by Shakespeare’s contemporaries.  We are delighted to welcome them to Durham Cathedral to perform Ben Jonson’s The Silent Woman.

 

A solemn Eucharist sung by the Choir of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, to mark this holy day when we celebrate the moment that the Angel Gabriel imparted to the Blessed Virgin Mary the news of her role in the redemption of mankind through the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Enjoy a tour of Durham Cathedral followed by afternoon tea served in the Chapter House, the filming location for Professor McGonagall's classroom in the first two Harry Potter films.

In April we will start conservation work on two 7th-8th century log coffins, part of the Cathedral’s historic collections. Come and see conservator Robert Elsey working on them in Open Treasure before they go on permanent display. Look out for updates on our social media pages.

Prior's Hall, 9.30am-5pm

Does Anglicanism Build Nations? Anglican Churches in Post-War Reconstruction, Nation-Building, and Peace and Reconciliation Since 1945

This event is organised by the Michael Ramsey Centre for Anglican Studies. 

The holiest week of the Christian Year begins on Palm Sunday and culminates on Easter Day as we walk the way of the cross with Our Lord, stand at the foot of his cross, and celebrate his glorious resurrection.

Usual Sunday services including a Palm Sunday Procession with the Reading of the Passion at 11.15am.

Durham Cathedral Choir joins forces with period instrument performers The Avison Ensemble to perform Bach's stunning St John Passion.

Enjoy a tour of Durham Cathedral followed by afternoon tea served in the Chapter House, the filming location for Professor McGonagall's classroom in the first two Harry Potter films.

Enjoy an evening of divine desserts at Durham Cathedral's Undercroft Restaurant. Feast upon a main course prepared with locally-sourced ingredients before indulging in unlimited helpings of delicious miniature puddings. The ultimate indulgence for those looking for a unique dining experience.

Enjoy a tour of Durham Cathedral followed by afternoon tea served in the Chapter House, the filming location for Professor McGonagall's classroom in the first two Harry Potter films.

Multi award-winning Enter CIC Theatre Company present this beloved musical in celebration of their 10th anniversary year. This promises to be an outstanding large-scale spectacle full of magic, well-known songs, fun and entertainment. 

Tickets £18.00 - £28.00 available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/enter or from 01740 655437. Concessions available. 

A chance to experience a walking tour of Durham Cathedral's historic woodlands and riverbanks guided by an expert walk leader. Starts from the cathedral visitor desk.

Enjoy a tour of Durham Cathedral followed by afternoon tea served in the Chapter House, the filming location for Professor McGonagall's classroom in the first two Harry Potter films.

A chance to experience a walking tour of Durham Cathedral's historic woodlands and riverbanks guided by an expert walk leader. Starts from the cathedral visitor desk.