Durham Cathedral - About Us

Support and deliver a range of informal, engaging and hands-on family activities devised and coordinated by Cathedral Learning & Engagement staff, as part of our busy, vibrant and creative Learning & Engagement Team.

These activities enhance visitor engagement for family audiences at weekends and during school holidays. You will also be helping family audiences engage with liturgical seasons and/or programmed events and understand how this shapes what they experience in Durham Cathedral.

Inspired by our saints, Cuthbert and Bede, the mission of Durham Cathedral is to offer everyone the opportunity to encounter God and know God’s love in Jesus Christ.

We welcome volunteers from any background, of all faiths and none, and those who in turn show respect and sensitivity towards all nationalities, religions, beliefs, cultures, backgrounds, and the ethos of the Cathedral as a working church.

Applicants to this role are required to obtain a DBS check to Enhanced Level plus the Children's Barred List before commencing their duties. This will be arranged for you through our HR team.   

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Support the our Benedictine tradition of welcoming everyone to the Cathedral. Bedesmen assist the Vergers, tidy books and candle stands and support services. Open to all, anyone in this historic role is known as a ‘Bedesman’ regardless of gender.

We welcome volunteers from any background, of all faiths and none, and those who in turn show respect and sensitivity towards all nationalities, religions, beliefs, cultures, backgrounds, and the ethos of the Cathedral as a working church. Inspired by our saints, Cuthbert and Bede, the mission of Durham Cathedral is to offer everyone the opportunity to encounter God and know God’s love in Jesus Christ.

Click here for full details of this role

In the Benedictine tradition of welcoming everyone, including children and young people to the Cathedral, this role supports the delivery of the Junior Church, open to children of reception age (3 - 4 years old) to Year 6 (10 - 11 years old) with the option of staying on after Year 6 if that seems appropriate. This role enables the Junior Church to play their part in fulfilling the mission and values of the Cathedral by nurturing faith and bible teaching in an inclusive, engaging and creative way.

Applicants to this role are required to obtain a DBS check to Enhanced Level plus the Children's Barred List before commencing their duties. This will be arranged for you through our HR team.  

Click here to read the full role profile.

This role leads on the delivery of Junior Church and the leadership and co-ordination of volunteer Junior Church Helpers. In the Benedictine tradition of welcoming everyone, including children and young people to the Cathedral, Junior Church is open to children of reception age (3 - 4 years old) to Year 6 (10 - 11 years old) with the option of staying on after Year 6 if that seems appropriate. This role enables the Junior Church to play their part in fulfilling the mission and values of the Cathedral by nurturing faith and bible teaching in an inclusive, engaging and creative way.

Applicants to this role are required to obtain a DBS check to Enhanced Level plus the Children's Barred List before commencing their duties. This will be arranged for you through our HR team. 

Click here to read the full role profile.

Be part of some of the key events in the Cathedral calendar, from classical recitals to rock concerts, welcoming audiences and helping events to run smoothly.

We welcome volunteers from any background, of all faiths and none, and those who in turn show respect and sensitivity towards all nationalities, religions, beliefs, cultures, backgrounds, and the ethos of the Cathedral as a working church. Inspired by our saints, Cuthbert and Bede, the mission of Durham Cathedral is to offer everyone the opportunity to encounter God and know God’s love in Jesus Christ.

Click here for full details of this role

Join us on weekdays or Saturdays to provide a well-informed and hospitable welcome to our many and varied visitors. Be visible and available to engage, inform, delight and assist visitors, helping them to feel safe and confident within our spaces. Be part of the visitor experience in the Cathedral, Museum, Chapter House and temporary exhibitions including the Magna Carta in Summer 2025. 

We welcome volunteers from any background, of all faiths and none, and those who in turn show respect and sensitivity towards all nationalities, religions, beliefs, cultures, backgrounds, and the ethos of the Cathedral as a working church. Inspired by our saints, Cuthbert and Bede, the mission of Durham Cathedral is to offer everyone the opportunity to encounter God and know God’s love in Jesus Christ.

Click here for full details of this role

Join us on Sundays to provide a well-informed and hospitable welcome to our many and varied visitors. Be visible and available to engage, inform, delight and assist visitors, helping them to feel safe and confident within our spaces. Be part of the visitor experience in the Cathedral, Museum, Chapter House and temporary exhibitions including the Magna Carta in Summer 2025. 

We welcome volunteers from any background, of all faiths and none, and those who in turn show respect and sensitivity towards all nationalities, religions, beliefs, cultures, backgrounds, and the ethos of the Cathedral as a working church. Inspired by our saints, Cuthbert and Bede, the mission of Durham Cathedral is to offer everyone the opportunity to encounter God and know God’s love in Jesus Christ.

Click here for full details of this role

Help by providing administrative and practical support to a range of fundraising activities and events on behalf of the Friends of Durham Cathedral. The Friends of Durham Cathedral are an independent charity that supports the cathedral’s conservation and heritage projects.   

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In this role you can help to enhance the cathedral’s image library, and assist us with research and activities to help grow the size and diversity of the Cathedral’s audiences and community, for services, events and day visits.


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Support our busy, vibrant and creative Learning & Engagement Team in delivering sessions to school, college and uniformed groups. Help to deliver engaging and hands-on family activities during school holidays or weekends. Volunteers in this role typically gift up to 4 days of their time a month, either as 8 half days or 4 full days. In busy periods we might offer additional opportunities, but we appreciate any gift of your time and you will set your own time commitment.  

We welcome volunteers from any background, of all faiths and none, and those who in turn show respect and sensitivity towards all nationalities, religions, beliefs, cultures, backgrounds, and the ethos of the Cathedral as a working church. Inspired by our saints, Cuthbert and Bede, the mission of Durham Cathedral is to offer everyone the opportunity to encounter God and know God’s love in Jesus Christ.

Click here for full details of this role

Liturgical Volunteers assist with services that are part of the regular schedule, or occasional special services as required. They are existing regular worshippers familiar with liturgy at the Cathedral, recommended for the role by our Precentor or Succentor.

Volunteers in this role help with one or more of the various aspects of services including, for example: 

• Stewarding
• Reading
• Serving
• Interceding
• Congregational Refreshments

Although your primary volunteer duties might be in one particular area of liturgical life, you may be invited to take part in other aspects as time goes by, subject to a further conversation with the Precentor or Succentor.

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