Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Durham: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Espiscopal See

In Short

This volume serves as a comprehensive architectural and historical handbook for Durham Cathedral, guiding the visitor through its complex construction and the long, turbulent history of its Episcopal See. It documents the transition from Norman heavy masonry to the refinements of Early English Gothic, detailing the cathedral's physical fabric—from the Galilee Chapel to the Nine Altars. By balancing scholarly rigor with an accessible tone, the text preserves a vivid snapshot of late 19th-century preservation efforts, making it an essential reference for those interested in the layers of English ecclesiastical heritage.

The Story

The narrative of Durham begins not with the stone of the current structure, but with the journey of the saint for whom it was built. Saint Cuthbert, a bishop of Lindisfarne, died in 687, but the subsequent Viking raids forced his monks into a long, arduous migration. Carrying the saint’s body, they sought a final resting place, eventually arriving at the site of the present cathedral. This odyssey provides the spiritual foundation upon which the later Norman church was established.

In 1093, Bishop Carileph laid the foundation stone of a new, grand church. The construction proceeded in phases, moving from the choir toward the west, with successive bishops—most notably Ralph Flambard—overseeing the completion of the nave and the rise of the western towers. The building was designed to house the remains of Saint Cuthbert, which were moved into their permanent shrine in 1104. As the building matured, it became a canvas for architectural change; when a proposed eastern expansion cracked the walls, the monks took it as a sign of divine disapproval and moved their efforts to the west, creating the Galilee Chapel.

The history of the See itself is marked by power struggles between the bishops and the monastic community. The bishops of Durham functioned as Princes Palatine, wielding immense authority that often led to friction with the religious institutions they technically led. Figures like Bishop Pudsey, a prolific builder, and the later Cardinal Wolsey, who held the see but never visited it, embody the political complexity of the role. Through the Reformation, the suppression of the monastery, and the eventual rise of the university, the cathedral remained a constant, though its physical state fluctuated with the changing tides of taste.

The final chapters of this history are defined by the struggle to preserve the fabric. The text highlights a series of restorations, some heavy-handed, such as the 18th-century "scraping" that removed architectural detail and left the exterior with a "flatness" that disappointed later observers. It covers the 19th-century interventions of figures like Sir Gilbert Scott, who restored the central tower, and the rebuilding of the chapter-house in honor of Bishop Lightfoot. The book concludes with a detailed look at the surrounding city and the academic life of the University, which now occupies the castle and grounds, effectively weaving the ecclesiastical past into the scholarly fabric of the modern era.

How It Unfolds

The foundational journey The text traces the flight of the monks from Lindisfarne, explaining how the threat of Danish invasion spurred the search for a secure home for the relics of Saint Cuthbert. This movement culminates in the settlement at Dunholme, where the cathedral finds its permanent, storied location.

The rise of the Norman structure The narrative shifts to the physical labor of construction, detailing how Bishop Carileph and his successors, particularly Flambard, erected the walls of the choir and nave. It explains the design logic of the period, noting how foundations were laid upon solid rock to support the massive masonry.

Architectural adaptation and expansion The account describes the transition from Norman forms to Early English Gothic, focusing on the construction of the Galilee Chapel and the eastern Nine Altars. It emphasizes how builders responded to structural failures, such as the cracks that forced the abandonment of an early eastern apse project.

The role of the Prince Bishops The history shifts toward the individuals who held the episcopal throne, detailing the often-fractious relationships between these powerful figures and their monastic subordinates. It chronicles the transition through the Reformation, ending with the shift toward academic and civic preservation in the 19th century.

The People

The history is defined by the tension between the saintly ideal and the worldly power of the bishops. Saint Cuthbert acts as the silent, central catalyst; though he died long before the cathedral’s completion, his presence demands the loyalty of the monks and dictates the placement of the architecture. His incorrupt body represents the spiritual anchor that gives the site its purpose.

Bishop Carileph stands as the visionary architect, initiating the grand Norman design that gives the cathedral its enduring character. He is followed by Ralph Flambard, whose practical leadership pushed the construction through the completion of the nave. Together, they establish the structural identity of the church.

Hugh Pudsey emerges as the most restless of the builders, responsible for the Galilee Chapel and the ambitious, aborted eastern extension. His struggle with the building’s foundations mirrors the broader theme of human limitation in the face of monumental ambition. Cuthbert Tunstall serves as the pivot between the medieval and the modern, guiding the see through the tumultuous Reformation and the reduction of the bishops' palatine powers.

Finally, the 19th-century restorers—including Sir Gilbert Scott and Bishop Lightfoot—represent a new era of stewardship. Their efforts to repair the damage caused by earlier, less sensitive restorations reflect a shifting attitude toward heritage, where the goal is no longer just to build, but to honor and protect the accumulated work of their predecessors.

In Its Own Voice

"He was not to rest, however."

This line introduces the centuries-long movement of Saint Cuthbert’s remains, which dictated the cathedral's eventual location.

"The effect of the cloister as a whole, in its original condition, with the windows glazed, many containing fine stained glass, the oak roof with its heraldry and colour, and the lavatory in the centre of the garth, must have been exceptionally fine."

The author reflects on the lost aesthetic glory of the monastic life, contrasting it with the skeletal remains that greeted the visitor in the late 1890s.

What It's Really About

This book is fundamentally concerned with the persistence of place through time. It explores the intersection of religious devotion—centered on the cult of Saint Cuthbert—and the evolving political power of the Prince Bishops. The core argument is that a cathedral is never a finished object, but a living record of successive generations. The text grapples with the tension between "improvement" and preservation, documenting how architectural styles have layered upon one another and how the physical surface of the building has been scarred by both history and misguided attempts at restoration. It asks the reader to see beyond the stone to the human decisions, conflicts, and reverences that shaped the site.

Why Read It Today

Reading this guide feels like walking through the cathedral with a companion who is deeply knowledgeable but refreshingly unpretentious. For anyone who appreciates the "massive grandeur" of Norman architecture or the quiet, delicate beauty of the Galilee Chapel, the book provides a precise, scholarly framework for observation. It is an excellent choice for those who value the historical process over modern, glossy summaries, as it invites a slow, detailed appreciation of the building’s fabric.

The reader should be prepared for the earnest, sometimes dense tone of late 19th-century scholarship. The author does not shy away from the "disappointing" aspects of the building—such as the flat, scraped exterior caused by careless 18th-century restorations—and his honesty provides a clear-eyed view of how fragile our connection to the past can be. You will come away with a profound sense of the cathedral not as a static museum piece, but as a site that has survived centuries of reform, political upheaval, and restoration. It is a rewarding read for the patient observer who wants to understand the layered history embedded in every stone.