Annual celebrations for the North East's most famous saint, St Cuthbert, take place this weekend, on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 March at Durham Cathedral with a programme of special events and services.
On Friday 17 March a special Evensong will take place led by the Dean of York at 6pm, followed by a procession to St Cuthbert’s Shrine.
On Saturday 18 March, the cathedral will be a place of festival and celebration with a range of special activities and events. For families, there is storytelling, craft activities and a reading nook inside the cathedral where you can learn more about the fascinating life of Cuthbert. The cathedral’s Museum will also be offering free entry all day so that visitors can get up close to the treasures of St Cuthbert, including his coffin and the Pectoral Cross.
Durham Cathedral is the final resting place of St Cuthbert, who was known for both his religious leadership as well as living a simple life as a hermit to be closer to God.
Andrew Usher, Chief Officer: Visitor Experience and Enterprise says,
“St Cuthbert is special to the people of Durham and the North East so we want to encourage as many people to join us as possible for this fantastic celebration of our Northern saint. Whether people want to join the pilgrimage, stop by for family activities, join a service or simply light a candle everyone is welcome to take part in in the festivities.”
The annual pilgrimage from Finchale Priory to Durham Cathedral will set off at 1pm on Saturday 18 March, with the aim of arriving at the cathedral in time for a special Eucharist service at 4pm, with performances from both Durham and Newcastle Cathedral Choirs.
The Reverend Canon Charlie Allen, Canon Chancellor at Durham Cathedral, says,
“Cuthbert loved God and God’s love shone through him to the world. He glimpsed the divine in all creation, whether that be the ‘cuddy duck’ sharing his monastic life on Inner Farne, or the person encountered on the road as he journeyed from Lindisfarne in his duties as bishop. Pilgrims have been travelling to Durham since the year 995 to give thanks for the life of this humble and inspiring man – we hope people will join our celebrations this weekend and do the same.”
A bus service at 12.30pm will take people from Durham County Hall to Finchale Priory for them to join the pilgrimage walk to the cathedral and pre-booking is essential.
To find out more about the life of St Cuthbert and activities happening on 17 and 18 March visit www.durhamcathedral.co.uk