The Amazing Durham Cathedral

The Amazing Durham Cathedral

By Joseph Parish

If there were to exist one method by which a human being could be humbled it would be to position them in the center of a huge medieval cathedral such as Durham Cathedral. This Romanesque style cathedral was constructed between the years 1093 and 1133. As Sir Walter Scott so aptly remarked, “Half church of God, half castle “in reference to its immense size and purpose. To visualize what Scott had in mind, consider for a moment a structure with an amazing length of 469 feet and a height of 73 feet with its towers extended upward to 218 feet. It is truly a magnificent creation. Located in the city of Durham, England this exquisite building is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham.

Along with its nearby complimentary Durham Castle, which was the home for the Bishop of Durham, the pair is an indication of exactly how much power the position of bishop actually wedged during those medieval times. Even to this day there is Church of England services performed daily at the cathedral. Throughout its life span this masterpiece of Romanesque architecture has served as everything imaginable including a prison. Oliver Cromwell had imprisoned 3,000 Scottish POW’s there in 1650. Of that amount at least 1,700 lost their lives as a result of the inhuman conditions they endured at the Cathedral resulting in many graves both known and unknown gracing the grounds of this place of worship.

Being a great fan of pipe organs, I was particularly impressed since the cathedral houses a fully functional unit from the mid-1700s. This organ has made its mark upon the history and is included in the National Pipe Organ Register. If you would like to hear this musical instrument research and listen to the Congregation at the Durham cathedral.

It would be difficult not to notice the many fabulous features of this massive sized building. The building with its ribbed vault roof’s curved lines and its pointed transverse arches provide a prominent display, although they are not necessarily unique for you can discover similar styles of cathedrals amongst various European nations. Its slender piers alternated among massive drum style columns display a feeling of strength and endurance. With its tall ceilings you experience a feeling of distance and vast emptiness. The texture itself appears hard and rough which adds to the impression of superiority over a man. Similar features have been displayed by the Gothic architecture found in the north of France.

The architectural aspect of this creation clearly conveys a feeling that some force other than mankind dwells within its cold, hard walls. I would imagine that when one walks within its structure their emotions reach a high level of piety. The framework seems to adequately portray its purpose quite well.

If I were to be forced to provide a judgment upon this art form, I would say it has not only achieved its aim but has surpassed any expectations laid before it. Both the elements of its composition and its general characteristics impress me with a sense of balance between the known and the unknown.

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