FRIENDS OF DURHAM CATHEDRAL

Day 1: We left Durham and headed north in the sunshine to Melrose Abbey, the beautiful monastic ruins where Robert the Bruce’s heart was buried. We had a fantastic tour around the Abbey, heard stories about the bell tower and ‘The Pig of Melrose’ before seeing the memorial stone where the heart was reburied in 1998. We re-boarded the coach and travelled a short distance to Abbotsford House (former residence of Sir Walter Scott). We enjoyed lunch together then wandered at our

World Heritage Day Saturday 18 th April Programme with Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site and County Durham Forum for History and Heritage 9:30am – 4:30pm Durham Cathedral open as usual (donations invited). 10am – 4pm Cathedral Museum (last entry 3:30pm) Exhibition and 30-minute talks at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on “A Treasure and a Legacy: Conservation at Durham Cathedral” Adults £7.50, u18s free 10am

There are lots of behind-the-scenes work happening at Durham Cathedral and it’s great to see many Friends-funded projects are underway. Conservation projects funded by YOU really do make a difference and we are pleased to see that many of the projects supported at our last AGM are underway and we can’t wait to see the finished results. Works on the Chapel of the Holy Cross are underway Launching the new Cuthbert Centre for Pilgrimage and Prayer is one of the most significan

Before anything else, and more importantly than anything else, I want to say a very sincere thank you to you all for the incredible support you, our 3000+ members of the Friends, give to Durham Cathedral. That support comes from the membership fees you pay, from the events you attend, the additional donations you kindly give, and sometimes from legacies. It also comes, though, from the other roles some of you occupy, such as your much-valued work as stewards, guides, help

Happy New Year! We’re already planning lots of events and trips for 2026 and don’t want you to miss out. In January we’ll be returning to see our friends at Harrison & Harrison Organ Builders Factory. Due to the popularity of our trips last year we have been lucky enough to plan another trip for all those who missed out last year and give the opportunity to all our new members too. We hope to be able to bring your more musical related events this year so watch this spac