The history of the diocese began in 995AD when Bishop Aldhun, having been forced to move the mortal remains of St Cuthbert from Chester le Street to Ripon, returned north and settled in Durham where the river Wear cut a deep root through the rock and provided a natural place of safety.
People of the north-east are proud of their history and feel a bond with the northern saints, Hild, Bede, Oswald, and Chad , as well as Aidan and Cuthbert. Bishops of Durham were major figures through the middle ages and beyond, and were known as Prince-Bishops because of their political as well as spiritual significance.
The diocese lies between the Tyne in the north, the Tees in the south, the Pennines in the west and the sea in the east. Roughly 1.5 million people live in the diocese which contains nearly 250 parishes. Of the 300 churches some are amongst the oldest in England (7 th century) while many were built in the industrial Victorian heyday of the region. The cathedral is one of the jewels of Europe.
This section of the website tells you about how the diocese is organised, how it seeks to fulfil its calling, and how it relates to ecumenical partners and to the world Church.
