New
New
Year 10
AQA
The religious function of Durham Cathedral
I can explain the religious function of Durham Cathedral.
New
New
Year 10
AQA
The religious function of Durham Cathedral
I can explain the religious function of Durham Cathedral.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Normans replaced unsuitable Anglo-Saxon prelates with reformers from Normandy or elsewhere.
- The canon of the cathedral chapter was replaced with monks who adopted a stricter Benedictine monasticism.
- Durham Cathedral was transformed into a centre of monastic life.
- Durham Cathedral functioned as a pilgrimage site for St Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede.
- 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.
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.
Teacher tip
Licence
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?
Q2.
Which word describes arches that support a ceiling or room?
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
Q4.
Which of the following are examples of Durham Cathedral's Romanesque design?
thick wooden walls
rounded central towers
Q5.
How was Durham Cathedral built?
by a team of English masons and carpenters
using the forced labour of Norman peasants
Q6.
Which pattern was frequently used by the Normans?
gingham
batik
paisley
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which word describes a Christian priest with special duties in a cathedral?
Q2.
Which word describes a stone screen which divides the nave and the quire in a cathedral?
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
Monks were given greater freedom to interact with pilgrims and visitors
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
Q5.
Whose relics were housed in the feretory of Durham Cathedral during the Norman period?
Saint Michael
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.
Additional material
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