Durham Cathedral, Durham, England Genealogy: Difference between revisions

== Parish History  ==

The '''Cathedral''' was built as a place of worship, specifically to house the shrine of the North's best-loved saint, Cuthbert, in whose honour pilgrims came to Durham from all over England. It was also the home of a Benedictine monastic community.<ref>Lewis, Samuel A., [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50932#s1 ''A Topographical Dictionary of England''], (1848), pp. 110-121. Adapted. Date accessed: 12 December 2013.</ref>  

DURHAM, a '''city''', is the capital of the county of Durham, and the head of a union, 67 miles ESE from Carlisle, 87 NE from Lancaster, 67 NW by W from York. The city is surmounted by the '''cathedral''' and the remains of the ancient '''castle''', together with other ecclesiastical residences. The '''college''' was established at the same time as the university. The city comprises several '''parishes: St. Giles (1584), St. Nicholas' (1540), St. Oswald's (1538), St. Margaret's (1557), as well as The (Durham) Cathedral (1609)'''. The parish of Durham St Oswald's also includes the village and chapelry of Shincliffe (1826) and part of the chapelry of Croxdale (1696) [see also Merrington Parish]. The chapelry of Belmont was built later on in the year 1858 which also stood within the boundary of Durham ancient parish. There are places of worship for the '''Society of Friends''', '''Independents''', '''Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists''', and '''Roman Catholics'''. <ref>Lewis, Samuel A., [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50932#s1  ''A Topographical Dictionary of England''], (1848), pp. 110-121. Adapted. Date accessed: 15 July 2013.</ref>  

Several extra parochial areas surround the cathedral which had in its own right Parish Records.