St Cuthbert Festival Returns

Annual St Cuthbert celebrations return to Durham Cathedral this week.

Durham Cathedral’s annual St Cuthbert’s Festival is returning, for the first time since 2020, and will see a programme of special services and events take place this Friday and Saturday to celebrate the North of England’s much-loved saint.

On the saint’s day itself, this Friday, there will be a special Evensong service, including a procession to the shire on St Cuthbert at 6pm. The special service will be sung by Durham Cathedral Choir and the service will be led by Reverend Canon Angela Tilby, Writer and Broadcaster and Canon Emerita of Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford. This service is open to all, however free tickets must be booked in advance on Durham Cathedral’s website.

On Saturday the cathedral will see  family events all around the building, including the opportunity to make a clay cross in the cloisters, drop-in story-telling sessions and a trail around the cathedral encouraging younger visitors to find St Cuthbert’s Cross.

The annual St Cuthbert’s Pilgrimage Walk also returns this Saturday (19 March), starting at Finchale Priory at 1pm

The Reverend Canon Charlie Allen, Canon Chancellor at Durham Cathedral, says

“We’re delighted to see the St Cuthbert Festival celebrations return to what they were pre-pandemic, as we know many of our congregation and visitors are too. All are welcome to join the Pilgrimage Walk, meeting at 1pm at Finchale Priory ready to leave at 1.30pm. “

The walk signifies the arrival of St Cuthbert’s body which was brought to Durham after a long search for a final resting place, following the Viking raid on Lindisfarne in 793.

Canon Charlie continues,

“We know this Festival is very special to the people of Durham and the North East so we encourage as many people to join us as possible. For those who prefer a shorter route, they can join the last leg of the pilgrimage from Durham’s marketplace, where we will proceed up the hill to the cathedral arriving at around 3.30pm in time for a special Sung Eucharist at 4pm .”

The Pilgrimage Eucharist in honour of St Cuthbert will be sung by the Durham Cathedral Choir and Newcastle Cathedral Choir and will celebrate those who have walked from Finchale Priory to complete their journey of faith.

To find out more about St Cuthbert’s Festival at Durham Cathedral, including how to book tickets and join the celebrations visit the Durham Cathedral website here.