Date

Friday 8th February 2019

Holy Places Visited

  • The Parish Church of St. Mary and St. Cuthbert (exterior), Chester-le-Street
  • Evangel Church (exterior), Chester-le-Street
  • St. Cuthbert’s Parish Church (exterior), Durham
  • Our Lady of Mercy & St. Godric’s Church (exterior), Durham
  • The Cathedral Church of Christ, the Blessed Mary the Virgin and St. Cuthbert of Durham
  • The Salvation Army Church and Community Centre (“Sanctuary 21”) (exterior), Durham
  • North Road Methodist Church (exterior), Durham
  • Waddington Street United Reformed Church (exterior), Durham
  • St. Mary and St. Cuthbert’s Church
  • Aykley Wood Nature Reserve
  • Small lake in Aykley Heads
  • Wharton Park Community Garden
  • Framwellgate Bridge
  • Durham Cathedral
  • Durham Cathedral

Distance Travelled

Approximately 13 km (8 miles)

Route

The morning rain soon gave way to blue skies (and a rainbow!). Walked on to Durham, enjoying the natural sights of Aykley Wood Nature Reserve and Wharton Park & Community Garden on the way through to the Cathedral.

After praying in the cathedral, I was walking away towards my accommodation. I noticed a large sheet of paper blowing down the street with Durham Cathedral written on it. I picked it up to discover it was the list of events being held there, and then decided to head back for Evensong. Later that evening I also attended the premiere of the musical cantata (narrative piece of music) “Life of St. Cuthbert”, which was majestic and beautiful amid the centuries-old stone pillars, walls and stained glass windows of the cathedral.

St. Cuthbert was an Anglo-Saxon monk and former Bishop of Lindisfarne Priory (~634-687 AD) who has been venerated as one of Mediæval Christianity’s most important saints. Many miracles have been attributed to him both during and after his life. Durham Cathedral was initially built to house his remains and has been visited by pilgrims for over a millennia.