The cathedral became a focal point for both religious devotion and political authority. The body of St. Cuthbert, housed in a richly decorated shrine in the cathedral’s choir, attracted pilgrims from all over England and beyond. The presence of the saint’s relics contributed to Durham’s prestige as a major pilgrimage site, and the cathedral’s treasury contained an impressive collection of religious artifacts and relics.
The Influence of the Vikings
Durham's history is also shaped by the Viking invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries. The monastery at Lindisfarne, where St. Cuthbert had once been the bishop, was destroyed by Viking raiders in 793, and the monks fled southward, bringing with them the relics of their saint. The decision to build a cathedral to house these relics in Durham was in part a response to the Viking threat, ensuring that the holy relics of St. Cuthbert would be kept safe from further raids.
The Norman conquerors who established the cathedral at Durham in the 11th century were themselves heavily influenced by the Viking presence in the region. Many of the Norman leaders, including the first bishop, William of St. Carilef, were of Scandinavian descent, and the cathedral's construction reflects both Norman and Viking architectural influences shutdown123