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Year 10
AQA

The religious function of Durham Cathedral

I can explain the religious function of Durham Cathedral.

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New
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Year 10
AQA

The religious function of Durham Cathedral

I can explain the religious function of Durham Cathedral.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Normans replaced unsuitable Anglo-Saxon prelates with reformers from Normandy or elsewhere.
  2. The canon of the cathedral chapter was replaced with monks who adopted a stricter Benedictine monasticism.
  3. Durham Cathedral was transformed into a centre of monastic life.
  4. Durham Cathedral functioned as a pilgrimage site for St Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede.
  5. The architectural design accommodated the flow of pilgrims.

Keywords

  • Canon - a Christian priest with special duties in a cathedral

  • Pulpitum - a stone screen which divides the nave and the quire in a cathedral

  • Cloister - a covered walkway enclosing a large open courtyard, found in a religious building

  • Feretory - the chapel in which a shrine is located

Common misconception

The Anglo-Saxon clergy were not religious.

While the Norman reformers viewed many Anglo-Saxon clergy as unsuitable due to their secular lifestyles, this does not mean all were irreligious.


To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The religious function of Durham Cathedral, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Play recordings of Gregorian chants or other examples of liturgical recitatives. Discuss how the acoustics of Durham Cathedral were designed to amplify the monks' prayers and chants, and the impact on pilgrims.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes the long central part of a church, often with aisles on both sides?
Correct Answer: nave
Q2.
Which word describes arches that support a ceiling or room?
Correct Answer: vaulting
Q3.
When did William St Calais order the construction of a new cathedral on the site of the Anglo-Saxon building which housed St Cuthbert’s relics?
1066
1069
1087
Correct answer: 1093
Q4.
Which of the following are examples of Durham Cathedral's Romanesque design?
thick wooden walls
Correct answer: thick stone walls
Correct answer: square central towers
rounded central towers
Correct answer: huge stone columns
Q5.
How was Durham Cathedral built?
Correct answer: using the forced labour of English peasants
by a team of English masons and carpenters
Correct answer: by a team of Norman masons and carpenters
using the forced labour of Norman peasants
Q6.
Which pattern was frequently used by the Normans?
gingham
batik
paisley
Correct answer: chevron

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes a Christian priest with special duties in a cathedral?
Correct Answer: canon
Q2.
Which word describes a stone screen which divides the nave and the quire in a cathedral?
Correct Answer: pulpitum
Q3.
How did the Norman reforms affect the daily life of monks at Durham Cathedral?
Monks were integrated with the local aristocracy and could own personal property
Correct answer: Monks were required to live in complete separation from lay people
Monks were given greater freedom to interact with pilgrims and visitors
Correct answer: Monks were required to follow a strict schedule of prayer
Q4.
What was one of the main goals of the Norman reformers in relation to Anglo-Saxon cathedrals and monasteries?
To integrate local aristocratic families into the Church leadership
To increase the number of Anglo-Saxon clergy in monasteries
To allow bishops to have secular roles and engage in political activities
Correct answer: To replace unsuitable Anglo-Saxon prelates with European reformers
Q5.
Whose relics were housed in the feretory of Durham Cathedral during the Norman period?
Correct answer: Saint Cuthbert
Saint Michael
Correct answer: the Venerable Bede
Edward the Confessor
Q6.
Arrange the steps in the order that a pilgrim would experience when visiting the feretory of Durham Cathedral, starting with the earliest.
1 - The doors to the cathedral were opened whilst bells rung
2 - The pilgrims were guided through the cathedral by attendants
3 - The pilgrim entered through the now unlocked entrance gate
4 - The pilgrim's donation would be accepted by cathedral staff
5 - The pilgrim would be assisted with their prayers
6 - The pilgrim would be guided out through the exit gate

Additional material

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