Durham Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Durham Cathedral |
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| The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham | |
Durham Cathedral from the north-west
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| Location | Durham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Tradition | Broad church |
| Website | durhamcathedral.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Cult(s) present | Saint Cuthbert & Saint Bede the Venerable |
| Relics held | Saints Cuthbert, Bede & Oswald |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 6 May 1952 |
| Architectural type | Cathedral |
| Style | Norman/Romanesque, Gothic |
| Years built | 1093–1133, additions until 1490 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 469 feet (143 m) (interior) |
| Nave width | 81 feet (25 m) (incl. aisles) |
| Nave height | 73 feet (22 m) |
| Choir height | 74 feet (23 m) |
| Number of towers | 3 |
| Tower height | 218 feet (66 m) (central tower) 144 feet (44 m) (western towers) |
| Number of spires | 0 (2 on western towers until 1658) |
| Bells | 10 (full circle) |
| Tenor bell weight | 28 long cwt 0 qr 6 lb (3,142 lb or 1,425 kg) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Durham (since 635 as Lindisfarne, 995 as Durham) |
| Province | York |
Durham Cathedral is a famous church in Durham, England. Its full name is the Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham. It belongs to the Church of England.
This amazing building is the main church for the bishop of Durham. It also holds the special tombs of two important Anglo-Saxon saints: Cuthbert and Bede. Many people visit the cathedral each year, and church services happen daily. It is a very important historic building and part of a World Heritage Site along with Durham Castle.
The cathedral you see today replaced an older church. It used to be a monastery until 1541. During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, it was even used as a prison for Scottish soldiers. The main part of the building was finished between 1093 and 1133. It is a great example of Romanesque style.
Contents
History of Durham Cathedral
Early Beginnings
The story of Durham Cathedral starts with Saint Aidan around 635. He founded a church on Lindisfarne Island. One of the most important saints from Lindisfarne was Saint Cuthbert. He was a bishop from 685 until he died in 687.
After many attacks by Vikings, the monks left Lindisfarne in 875. They carried Saint Cuthbert's holy items with them. They settled in Chester-le-Street in 882. But in 995, more Viking attacks made them move again.
A local story, the Dun Cow legend, says the monks followed two milkmaids looking for a dun-coloured cow. They ended up on a piece of land surrounded by the River Wear. Saint Cuthbert's coffin became too heavy to move, which they took as a sign. This was the spot where the new church should be built. This place became the city of Durham. The area was also a good choice because it was easy to defend.
At first, a simple wooden church was built for Saint Cuthbert's items. This was replaced by a stronger wooden church, then a stone one in 998. Durham quickly became a popular place for people to visit on a pilgrimage. Even King Canute visited and gave gifts to the monks. This helped the town of Durham grow around the cathedral.
The Norman Cathedral
The cathedral we see today was planned by Bishop William de St-Calais. In 1083, he started a Benedictine monastery in Durham. He removed the old church leaders and brought in monks from other monasteries.
On August 11, 1093, Bishop William and Prior Turgot of Durham laid the first stone of the new cathedral. The monks built their own buildings, while the bishop was in charge of the cathedral itself. Stone was brought up from the cliffs below using winches. The main reason for building this huge church was to house the bodies of St. Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede.
Most of the cathedral's structure is still the original Norman design. The eastern part was finished by 1096. St. Cuthbert's remains were moved into the new cathedral in 1104. The monks continued to care for his shrine.
Work on the main part of the church, called the nave, was done by 1135. The chapter house was built between 1133 and 1140. Bishop William died before the building was finished. His successor, Ranulf Flambard, continued the work.
In the 1170s, Bishop Hugh de Puiset added the Galilee Chapel at the west end. This chapel holds the remains of the Venerable Bede. The main entrance to the cathedral is now on the north side, facing the castle.
In 1228, Richard le Poore became Bishop of Durham. He had just rebuilt Salisbury Cathedral in the Gothic style. Durham's east end needed repairs, so he hired Richard Farnham to design a new eastern section. This became the Chapel of the Nine Altars. In 1250, the original roof of the cathedral was replaced with a new vaulted ceiling.
The cathedral's towers were built in the early 13th century. The central tower was later rebuilt in the 15th century after being hit by lightning.
Changes Over Time
During the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538, King Henry VIII ordered St. Cuthbert's tomb to be destroyed. His body was found to be perfectly preserved and was reburied under a plain stone slab. In 1540, the monastery was closed.
After the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, Oliver Cromwell used Durham Cathedral as a prison for Scottish soldiers. About 3,000 were held there, and 1,700 died from the terrible conditions. The prisoners burned much of the cathedral's wooden parts for warmth.
Bishop John Cosin (1660–1672) later worked to repair the damage. He added new choir stalls and a tall canopy over the font. A library was also started in the old refectory building.
In the 18th century, some changes were made to the cathedral's outside stonework. In 1794, architect James Wyatt planned big changes, including tearing down the Galilee Chapel, but luckily, this did not happen.
The Victorian restoration in the 19th century brought more changes. Architects like Anthony Salvin and George Gilbert Scott worked on the building. Scott added a marble screen and pulpit. The Chapter House was rebuilt in 1892. Many beautiful stained glass windows were also added during this time.
Modern Times
In the 1930s, work began to restore St. Cuthbert's Shrine. This continued after the Second World War. New stained glass windows and art pieces were added in the 20th century.
In 1986, Durham Cathedral and the nearby castle became a World Heritage Site. UNESCO called it "the largest and most perfect monument of 'Norman' style architecture in England." This means it's a very important building in the world.
In the 21st century, more changes have happened. Two altars were rededicated to Saint Hild and Saint Margaret of Scotland. A special plaque remembers the Scottish soldiers who died in the cathedral in 1650. Their remains were found in a mass grave nearby in 2013.
New sculptures and stained glass windows have also been added. In 2016, old monastic buildings were opened to the public as "Open Treasure." This exhibition shows the cathedral's history and treasures.
The cathedral has also been part of the "Crown of Light" show during the Lumiere festival. This show lights up the building with amazing images. The cathedral's old books are also being made digital so more people can see them.
Architecture of Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral is famous for its unique ribbed vaults in the nave. These are ceilings with stone ribs that support the weight. Some experts believe Durham has the earliest examples of these in England. The building also uses pointed arches. These features were very new for their time.
The way the cathedral uses pointed arches and ribbed vaults was very clever. It allowed builders to create much taller buildings. It also made it possible to have larger windows. Even though it has these new features, the building is mostly considered Romanesque in style.
UNESCO says that Durham Cathedral was an "experimental model" that was far ahead of its time. They also note that the use of stone ribs forming pointed arches to support the ceiling was a major achievement. Durham Cathedral is the earliest known example where the pointed arch was successfully used as a structural part of the building.
St. Cuthbert's tomb is at the east end of the cathedral. It was once a very fancy monument. Today, it is covered by a simple stone slab. It is still a place where people go on pilgrimages. Pieces of St. Cuthbert's coffin are also on display.
Music at Durham Cathedral
The Organ
Durham Cathedral has a large and impressive organ. It was built in 1876 by 'Father' Willis. It has been worked on and improved many times since then. The organ's beautiful cases were designed in 1876.
Organists and Choir
The first organist recorded at Durham was John Brimley in 1557. Today, the Master of the Choristers and Organist is Daniel Cook.
The cathedral has a regular choir. It includes adult singers and child choristers. The children go to the Chorister School. For a long time, only boys were in the choir. But in 2009, girls were allowed to join for the first time. Now, the girls and boys sing on different days, but they sing together for big events like Easter and Christmas.
The Bells
There are ten bells in the central tower. They are rung in the English style. Five of these bells are very old, cast in 1693. The largest bell weighs about 28 tons!
Meridian Line
In 1829, a special line was carved into the floor and wall of the north cloister. This is called a meridian line. A small hole in a nearby window lets a beam of sunlight shine on the line. This happens exactly when the sun passes the meridian, which is noon. It's like a giant sundial inside the cathedral!
Durham Cathedral in Film and Television
Durham Cathedral has been used as a filming location for many movies and TV shows. Its unique Romanesque style makes it perfect for fantasy settings.
Movies
- In the 1996 movie Jude, the cathedral was shown with the main actor working as a mason.
- Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett, used the cathedral to look like The Palace of Westminster.
- Durham Cathedral was used as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first two Harry Potter movies. The cloisters were used as courtyards, and the Chapter House was Professor McGonagall's classroom. The cathedral's look also inspired the design of the Hogwarts model.
- The palace in Snow White and the Huntsman was based on Durham Cathedral's architecture.
- Interior scenes of the cathedral were used in the 2019 Marvel superhero film Avengers: Endgame as a location in Asgard.
- A scene from Ken Loach's movie The Old Oak was filmed here.
Television
Durham Cathedral has appeared in many TV shows, including Songs of Praise and The Antiques Roadshow.
- In 2009, Sting performed a special Christmas concert at the cathedral.
- In 2010, the show Climbing Great Buildings featured the cathedral.
- Great British Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo visited the cathedral in 2011.
- Britain's Great Cathedrals with Tony Robinson explored Durham Cathedral's history and architecture.
- BBC Breakfast broadcast from the cathedral's tower in 2019 after its restoration.
- The cathedral also appeared in two Catherine Cookson TV dramas, The Tide of Life and The Wingless Bird.
- It was also featured in several episodes of Inspector George Gently.
In Art and Literature
The poet Letitia Landon wrote a poem called Durham Cathedral in 1835. The famous writer Sir Walter Scott also wrote about Durham Cathedral in his poem Harold the Dauntless:
- "Grey towers of Durham
- Yet well I love thy mixed and massive piles
- Half church of God, half castle 'gainst the Scot"
Durham Cathedral in Lego
Durham Cathedral used to have a huge model of itself made entirely from Lego bricks! It was built as part of a fundraising project to help create the "Open Treasure" exhibition.
The Lego cathedral was started in July 2013 and finished in July 2016. It stood about 5 ft 6 in (1.7 m) tall and 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m) long. It even had a detailed inside, with the nave, organ, and stained glass windows all made of Lego.
People donated £1 for each Lego brick. This helped raise £300,000 for the "Open Treasure" museum. Visitors from 182 countries helped build the model. The project also included five Lego animated videos that told the history of the cathedral.
Images for kids
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Photo from the late 19th century
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Durham Cathedral by Turner, 1801
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View of Durham Cathedral and its surroundings c. 1850
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The towers at the end of the nave
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The cloisters at Durham Cathedral
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Durham Cathedral (postcard c1920) by A. R. Quinton
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Durham Cathedral from the River Wear
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Ground plan of Durham Cathedral
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In Spanish: Catedral de Durham para niños
- Gothic cathedrals and churches
- English Gothic architecture
- Architecture of the medieval cathedrals of England
