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An Address on the History of Durham Cathedral, delivered 

 at the joint Meeting of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 

 and the Archceological and Architectural Society of Dur- 

 ham and Northumberland. By the Rev. William Green- 

 well, F.R.S., F.S.A., President of the Archaeological and 

 Architectural Society of Durham and Northumberland. 



I propose to divide what I have to say into three parts, the 

 first commencing with a brief account of the earliest introduction 

 of Christianity into the North of England, bringing the history 

 down through the period before there was any religious estab- 

 lishment at Durham, and from thence to the time of the Norman 

 Conquest and the establishment of the Benedictine Order at Dur- 

 ham. After that I will give in detail the facts from history 

 which have relation to the erection of various parts of the 

 Cathedral, and then I will accompany you through the building, 

 and endeavour to show how the architectural features of the 

 several parts tally with the historic data previously given you. 



With regard to the first establishment of Christianity, I do not 

 think there is any evidence to show that it had taken root during 

 the time of the Roman occupation. We know that there is 

 abundant evidence that Christianity did exist in various parts of 

 England, but I am not aware that there are any facts which 

 would enable us to say that Christianity was established here in 

 the North of England, at all events, to any great extent. There 

 may have been isolated instances of Christians, but that they were 

 few seems to be shown by the fact that all the inscriptions upon 

 the Roman stones down to the latest period of the Roman rule 

 are Pagan. 



As I proceed, I shall have to bring before you a number of 

 great figures, men of extraordinary eminence, capacity, and re- 

 ligious zeal in their several times and places. The first of whom 

 I have to speak is Paidinus, the great missionary of the North 

 in the very earliest time. He preached throughout all this 

 part of the ancient kingdom of Northumbria, in which is 

 comprised the present counties of Northumberland, Durham, 

 and Yorkshire, together with a large portion of South-Eastern 

 Scotland, up to the Frith of Forth. There are several places 

 well known to many of you where he preached and baptised 

 with great success, one of which, Pallinsburn, near the later 



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