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Location:
Europe,
United Kingdom, Durham
Category:
Famous Landmark
Description:
View
of Durham cathedral, taken from the
University of Durham Physics
Department
Location Information:
The
Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed
Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of
Durham - known as Durham Cathedral -
in the city of Durham, England, is
the seat of the Anglican Bishop of
Durham. The Bishopric dates from
995, with the present cathedral
being founded in AD 1093. The
cathedral is regarded as one of the
finest examples of Norman
architecture and has been designated
a UNESCO World Heritage Site along
with nearby Durham Castle, which
faces it across Palace Green.
The present cathedral replaces the
10th century "White Church" built as
part of a monastic foundation to
house the shrine of Saint Cuthbert
of Lindisfarne. The treasures of
Durham Cathedral include relics of
St Cuthbert, the head of St Oswald
of Northumbria and the remains of
the Venerable Bede.
Durham Cathedral occupies a
strategic position on a promontory
high above the River Wear. From 1080
until the 19th century the bishopric
enjoyed the powers of a Bishop
Palatine, having military as well as
religious leadership and power.
Durham Castle was built as the
residence for the Bishop of Durham.
The seat of the Bishop of Durham is
the fourth most significant in the
Church of England hierarchy, and he
stands at the right hand of the
monarch at coronations. Signposts
for the modern day County Durham are
somewhat fancifully subtitled "Land
of the Prince Bishops."
There are daily Church of England
services at the Cathedral, with the
Durham Cathedral Choir singing daily
except Mondays and while the choir
is in recess. The cathedral is a
major tourist attraction within the
region, the central tower of 217
feet (66 m) giving views of Durham
and the surrounding area.
Local
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