St Cuthbert's Church, Durham Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Cuthbert's Church, Durham

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Location	Durham
Country	England
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	StCuthberts-Durham.org.uk
History
Status	Active
Founded	1827 (1827)
Dedication	St Cuthbert
Consecrated	20 July 1910
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Designated	10 March 1988
Architect(s)	Ignatius Bonomi
Architectural type	Gothic Revival architecture
Style	English Gothic architecture, Perpendicular Gothic
Administration
Deanery	St Cuthbert, Durham
Diocese	Hexham and Newcastle
Province	Liverpool

St Cuthbert's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Durham, England. It is a parish church, meaning it serves a local community. The church first opened its doors on May 31, 1827. It replaced two older chapels that were used by Catholic groups.

Today, St Cuthbert's is also home to the Catholic Chaplaincy and Catholic Society for Durham University students. From 2012 to 2016, a group of priests called the Dominican Order helped lead the church. Their influence is still felt by the church community. St Cuthbert's is a protected building, part of the Elvet Green Conservation Area. It is named after St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, an important bishop from the 7th century. He is known as a healer and a patron saint of Northern England.

History of St Cuthbert's Church
Parish Life
Gallery
See also

History of St Cuthbert's Church

Distribution of English Recusant Catholics 1715-1720. County Durham is the second down on the north-east coast.

Even though the current church building opened in 1827, the Catholic community in Durham has a much longer history. This community continued to practice their faith even during times of difficulty. This was when Catholics faced challenges after the English Reformation. During this time, the Church of England became the official church. However, Catholic communities, especially in the North of England, remained strong. St Cuthbert's was founded by one of these dedicated Catholic groups in Durham.

In 1569, Durham was the site of an event called the Rising of the North. This was a rebellion led by powerful Catholic noble families. They wanted to bring the Catholic Church back to England. The rebellion reached its peak when a Catholic Mass was celebrated again at Durham Cathedral. The next year, the priest who led this Mass, Thomas Plumtree, was executed. He was later recognized as a blessed person by Pope Leo XIII in 1886. St Cuthbert's Church still keeps special items, called relics, from his arm and hand.

Catholics in Old Elvet, Durham

By the early 1600s, priests from the Jesuit order were serving the Catholic community in Durham. They had a chapel at 33 and later 45 Old Elvet. This chapel was later destroyed by a crowd celebrating the Glorious Revolution of 1688. This event removed the Catholic King James II from power.

From the 1660s to the late 1700s, many wealthy Catholic families in the Durham and Northumberland area bought properties in Old Elvet. They wanted to be close to where Catholic worship was secretly held. Even today, special Masses are said at St Cuthbert's for these noble Catholic families. One such family, the Salvins of nearby Croxdale, have supported the church since the 1500s. Their family symbol, or coat of arms, can be seen on the wooden rood-screen behind the high altar.

The 1700s brought more religious freedom for Catholics, except during the Jacobite rising of 1745. The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1791 finally made public Catholic worship legal. After this, a permanent chapel was built in Elvet. A home for a Vicar Apostolic, who was a Catholic bishop for Northern England, was also built there.

Interior of St Cuthbert's with the high altar and heraldic rood screen.

Building the Current Church

Bishop William Gibson was the Vicar Apostolic for the Northern District from 1790 to 1821. He lived and regularly celebrated Mass at the chapel. The current church building was constructed in 1827. This was two years before the Catholic Emancipation of 1829. This important act restored many civil and religious rights to Catholics.

The church was designed by Ignatius Bonomi. It was made to look like English gothic buildings. However, it was built without a tall tower and at a similar height to other buildings in Old Elvet. This was so Catholics could remain somewhat discreet at the time. In 1869, a tower was added to the church. The church was officially consecrated, or dedicated, on July 20, 1910.

Recent History of the Church

From 2012 to 2016, the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle asked the Dominican Order to lead the parish. They also provided Catholic chaplains for Durham University. Fr Benjamin Earl, O.P. was the leader, parish priest, and chaplain during this time.

In 2013, a big renovation project began, costing £300,000. It took seven months and was finished in February 2014. Since 2012, St Cuthbert's has seen more people joining the church, especially students. The church still follows many Dominican traditions and ways of worship. This is helped by the current parish priest, Fr Andrew Downie.

Parish Life

St Cuthbert's is one of the largest Catholic parishes in the Hexham and Newcastle diocese. It has two choirs: a parish choir and a student choir. They sing many different types of music. This includes Gregorian chant, Taizé songs, polyphony (music with many voices), and Anglican music.

Holy Mass is offered on Sundays and weekdays at these times:

10:00am (Parish Sung Mass)
6:30pm (During university term time, student Sung Mass with a reception)
12:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
7:00pm on Wednesday (chanted Mass, followed by a student dinner).

Morning and evening prayers are said throughout the week. On Tuesday mornings, the Catholic Society chants Dominican Lauds (a type of morning prayer) and hosts breakfast.