Cathedral from the Middle Ages
VIMALA MURTHY
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The Durham cathedral has many interesting and unique features.
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The cathedral: A place of prayer, pilgrimage and historic interest.
Durham is an ancient city, rich in historic sites and monuments, situated North West of Manchester in the U.K. The imposing castle and the magnificent cathedral dating back to the Middle Ages dominate the landscape. This church is not just a place of pilgrimage and prayer, but also a place of historic interest. One of the greatest churches ever built, mostly in the Norman (Romanesque) style, it was planned and begun by Bishop Carileph (William of St. Calais 1081 -1096). Ov
er the centuries, many additions have been made to the cathedral. The window near the main north door, designed by Markus Angus, was given to the church in 1984 by the staff of Marks and Spencer to mark the firm’s centenary. Known as “The Daily Bread Window” it illustrates “The Last Supper”. The most recent addition is the window designed by Nuttgens, bringing together traditional and modern themes, celebrating the millennium of the Diocese of Durham in 1995.
Historic and unique
A guided tour helps the visitor to enjoy the many splendours of this ancient church, beginning with its historic “Sanctuary Knocker” at the north door. A unique feature of the cathedral, a panel outside the mail door, close to the knocker explains its historic importance.
During the Middle Ages, the cathedral provided protection for fugitives — anyone who had committed a serious offence could seek refuge by knocking on this door.
Fugitives were given 37 days to organise their affairs. They had to decide either to stand trial or leave the country by the nearest port. The knocker that is on the door is a replica of the original, which can be viewed among the Treasures at St. Cuthbert Exhibition in the cathedral precincts.
Another interesting feature of the cathedral is the support that the authorities lend for the ecological and environmental concerns. A notice just outside the church reads: “Our colony of Pipestelle Bats: if you see or find a bat on the floor, PLEASE do not move it, unless it is in danger of being stepped on. At this time of the year a number of ‘teenage’ bats go out at night and cannot find their way home. We believe Pipestelle bats may have lived above the wooden roof in the cloister for more than 500 years. This is a protected species.”
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