Bishop Of Durham

General information

The Diocese of Durham dates back to 995 AD when Bishop Aldhun moved his seat from Chester-le-Street to Durham, but he was the direct successor of bishops going back to St Aidan and St Cuthbert himself. People of the North East are proud of their Christian history and feel a contemporary bond with the northern saints, among them Hild, Oswald, Bede, Chad and Godric as well as Aidan and Cuthbert. The shrines of Cuthbert and Bede are preserved in Durham Cathedral.

Across the diocese, there are 253 church buildings, many of which are of historical significance and beauty, served by 189 stipended clergy and a growing number of Readers and other lay ministers.

Many of the parishes are in industrial towns, in pit villages or small market towns and villages. The region has been defined by coal mining, lead mining, iron and steel works, heavy engineering and ship building but has seen huge change over recent years.

Today we are committed to 'Growing the Kingdom" meaning that we have identified five areas to underpin our life together:

◦ Focussing on mission
◦ Restoring the Sacred Centre
◦ Acting Collaboratively
◦ Learning Discipleship
◦ Developing Leadership