Durham Cathedral photography will very soon be allowed after a change in the rules for visitors - and they're holding a photography competition to celebrate it.

From Friday March 8, Durham Cathedral visitors will be permitted to take pictures inside the cathedral, provided they are for personal use.

The change marks a shift in a long-standing Durham Cathedral photography policy that visitors could not take photographs inside Durham Cathedral. Photography was only previously permitted in the Durham Cathedral cloisters. This was on the grounds of fabric preservation and maintaining peaceful worship.

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However, while these two ideas remain priorities, the change in Durham Cathedral photography rules reflects the age of social media and that people want to be able to share memories of their visit, as well as spread the word about Durham Cathedral to a wider audience.

However, despite the change in the Durham Cathedral photography policy, taking pictures is still prohibited in the Gregory Chapel and in the Durham Cathedral Open Treasure exhibition, as well as during services and events. Also, flash cannot be used.

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Durham Cathedral photography competition

To mark the change in the Durham Cathedral photography rules, the cathedral is holding a photography competition. Head into Durham Cathedral from Friday March 8 until the competition deadline of Friday April 12 2019 to take a picture.

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You can then enter it into one of the four Durham Cathedral photography competition categories, which are sacred spaces, stained glass, shadows and sunlight and architectural wonders. There will be an adult and child winner in each of the competition categories, with a prize of a Durham Cathedral Open Treasure family ticket which permits entry for two adults and three children.

To enter the Durham Cathedral photography competition, post your picture to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #mydurhamcathedral as well as #adult or #child, and the name of the category.