St Cuthbert's Festival, culminating in the St Cuthbert Procession, is an important time in the calendar for Durham's history and heritage, and there will be plenty of events. Here's what's going on in 2019.
Many of the St Cuthbert's Festival events are naturally focused around Durham Cathedral given that his shrine is in the cathedral's feretory. St Cuthbert's Day falls on March 20. Durham Cathedral's St Cuthbert's Festival 2019 will run from Wednesday March 20 to Saturday March 23, with special services, a concert, free tours, a food fair, procession and a special ticket price into Open Treasure.
But there are also a couple of other events outside the cathedral too, and there is also the St Cuthbert's Procession, which is one of the main events.
Members of the public can walk behind the banner along the route from Chester le Street that the monks carrying St Cuthbert's body are said to have taken, and then everyone congregates in Durham Marketplace before the final procession to Durham Cathedral.
Here's everything that's going on around St Cuthbert's Festival 2019.
St Cuthbert's Festival events #1: St Cuthbert's Day Evensong and Procession, March 20
On Wednesday March 20 at 7pm is the St Cuthbert's Day Evensong and Procession, which commemorates the life of St Cuthbert, with the Lucernarium (the blessing of the light), and the offering of incense.
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St Cuthbert's Festival events #2: two for one Open Treasure tickets, March 20-23
Between Wednesday and Saturday, March 20-23, visitors can buy two for one Durham Cathedral Open Treasure tickets.
St Cuthbert's Festival events #3: Stories of Sanctuary, Thursday March 21
On Thursday March 21 at 7.30pm is the St Cuthbert's Day Stories of Sanctuary which, ahead of a national tour, performs stories of people finding sanctuary in Durham, from the original monks carrying St Cuthbert's body through to Syrian refugees.
The stories are both spoken and sung, performed by Sam Slatcher, along with guest musician Raghad Haddad, a viola player from the Syrian National Orchestra, as well as some of the participants of the workshops. Tickets cost £12-15 and raises money for Stories of Sanctuary and Durham Cathedral.
You can book tickets on the Durham Cathedral website or by calling 0191 338 7178.
St Cuthbert's Festival events #4: Chorister School performance, Friday March 22
On Friday March 22 at 1.15pm is A Musical Celebration by the Chorister School, where pupils will perform.
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St Cuthbert's Festival events #5: St Cuthbert Festival Giving Day, March 23
On Saturday March 23, the National Lottery Heritage Fund will double any donations made to Durham Cathedral either online or in person. The money will go towards Foundation 2020, which is aiming to raise funds for ongoing care of Durham Cathedral.
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St Cuthbert's Festival events #6: St Cuthbert's Procession, March 23
On Saturday March 23 is the main event to the St Cuthbert's Festival: the St Cuthbert's Day Procession. Organised by the Northumbrian Association, the St Cuthbert's Day Procession starts at St Mary's and St Cuthbert's Church, Chester le Street at 9.30am. It follows a historic pilgrimage route symbolising the arrival of St Cuthbert's body, and covers eight miles.
Everyone can then join in the procession behind the banner from Durham Marketplace to Durham Cathedral, arriving at 2.10pm for a short service at St Cuthbert's shrine.
You can book your free tickets on the Durham Cathedral website.
St Cuthbert's Festival events #7: A day of Durham Cathedral events, Saturday March 23
Durham Cathedral will host a series of St Cuthbert's Day events on Saturday March 23. At 10am, several events will start. First off will be a St Cuthbert Festival Local Producers' Market in the Durham Cathedral cloisters, and at the same time there will be St Cuthbert Festival Family Fun, where children aged three upwards can handle objects such as knights' armour, and listen to storyteller Adam Bushnell talk about Anglo Saxons and Vikings.
Also running from 10am will be free Durham Cathedral guided tours, at 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
Then the final event in the St Cuthbert's Day schedule for Saturday March 23 is the St Cuthbert Festival Special Service of Sung Eucharist, at 5.15pm. Durham Cathedral Choir will be joined by Newcastle Cathedral Choir, and the service concludes with a procession to St Cuthbert's shrine.