Festival Day Highlights

We had a great Festival Day and it was lovely that so many new members were able to join us too. Thank you to everyone that joined us throughout the day.

Northern Lights at Chapter House

The morning began in Chapter House for our AGM, where our members voted to support 15 projects including: the refurbishment of the Reredorter (Toilets), completion of the current work of the Cuthbert Centre for Pilgrimage and Prayer, restoration of the Ironmongery surrounding the cathedral and refurbishment of the chamber organ. The friends continued support of projects in the education department, library, the workshop (for stonemasons), archaeology department and a number of surveys and repairs. Many of these projects would not be possible without your support and we and Durham Cathedral are most grateful to our members.

Behind the scenes with New College Durham

We previewed a video recently made with New College Durham to show our members, from all around the globe, how your generous donations and continued support really has made a difference to the projects you have supported at Durham Cathedral.

Watch it here - Friends of Durham Cathedral Video

After our AGM we headed to Prior’s Hall for an afternoon tea style lunch which was a great opportunity to meet old friends and chat to new faces.

The organ recital by Joseph Beech was wonderful as he played on both the Main Cathedral organ and the Laus Deo (Chamber) organ, showcasing the tones of both instruments and playing contemporary and traditional pieces. Our members were captivated by Joseph's performance of:

Sweelinck - Soll es sein (on the chamber organ)

James MacMillan - Offertorium

Jacques van Oortmerssen - Nun ruhen alle Walder 

Stanford - St Patrick’s Breastplate (from Sonata No 4) 

Joseph Beech performs on the Laus Deo organ

Our afternoon of tours proved ever popular. We learned more from stonemason Grace Impesi, currently completing her SPAB (The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) Heritage skills course with lots of our members wanting to go on the stone carving days at Durham Cathedral. Norman Emery’s archaeology tour showed members updates of the ongoing works in the Chapel of the Holy Cross and unseen cathedral spaces. Marie-Therese Mayne presented a fascinating history behind the Father Smith Organ Case, Shaun McAllister’s showcased rare books in the Cathedral Library, Maureen Potter provided a detailed tour around the cathedral and, this time, the Dean’s wife Annabelle showed members around the Deanery. Thank you to all those that volunteered their time to take our members on these wonderful, insightful, behind-the-scenes looks of cathedral life.

Norman Emery is always full of facts on his tour

Evensong was well attended with many of the public joining us for this special service. Our Treasurer, Andrew French read the first lesson and our chair, Caroline Peacock, read the second. The procession led us to the Chapel of the Nine Altars as we continued to sing with the choir. We then moved to join the crowds forming on Palace Green to hear the choir as it sung from the top of the Tower.

Northern Lights wowed the crowd with their acappella performance

The day ended with a special fundraising concert with Northern Lights – the award winning Acapella group from Durham University. The students performed to a full audience of new faces in Chapter House with even passer-by’s who heard them joining us too!

Date for your diary for next year –Festival Day Saturday 12^th June 2027.

(And don’t forget you are welcome to join us for any part/s of the day)