The city of Durham.
With its famous cathedral built by the Normans,
it adds yet another layer to this region's history.
As their empire was falling in the fifth century,
the Romans abandoned Britain to the barbarians.
After centuries of relative chaos,
a central government was re-established by the Normans,
who invaded from France in 1066.
Along with stability and a capable rule,
the Normans brought with them the prevailing
European style of architecture, Romanesque.
Here in England, they named it for
the people who brought it -- Norman.
Before visiting the church
and learning about Norman architecture,
we'll get the lay of the land.
A sharp bend in its river protected medieval Durham,
providing a moat on three sides.
Today the river seems to protect the city
only from the modern world.
From this riverside path,
much-enjoyed by residents for a peaceful little get-away,
we can ponder the cathedral
as approaching medieval pilgrims once did.
The tangle of streets leading up to the cathedral,
while retaining its medieval atmosphere,
is lively.
The city hosts the country's third-oldest university.
Along with the student vibe,
Durham also feels blue-collar because of its
historic connection with the mining industry.
For nearly a thousand years,
pilgrims have set their sights on this,
the Durham cathedral, standing like a mighty fortress.
Built around the year 1100 to house the much-venerated bones
of the great missionary monk Saint Cuthbert,
it offers perhaps England's best
and purest look at Norman architecture.
The architecture is unusually harmonious
because the church was completed in just 40 years
and survives essentially unaltered.
Round arches and zig-zag decorations
are textbook Norman style.
Stroll down the nave to the center.
Gaze up at one of
the highest bell towers in Europe.
When the Normans conquered the Saxons
here in England back in the 11th century,
they brought with them more than just their architecture.
They brought a whole new order.
And this mighty church, way up here in the north,
was more than a place of worship
and a home for Saint Cuthbert's bones.
It was an unambiguous political statement,
both to the conquered Saxons and to the Scots further north.
The Normans were here to stay.
Grand medieval churches and the art that fills them
are a reminder that monks like Cuthbert
were the intellectual candles who helped keep
scholarship flickering through the dark ages.
Later, that knowledge strengthened the church
and made wonders like the Durham Cathedral possible.
While this fresco of the saint dates from the 12th century,
Cuthbert died way before that, in the year 687.
The cathedral displays the saint's coffin
and treasures that were buried with him.
This fine Saxon sash was embroidered with
gold thread and silk, and this is the exquisite cross
that this leader of the early Christian church
in northern England wore.
For a better understanding of the cathedral and its saint,
we're joined by Canon Stephen Cherry.
But the cathedral is called the Shrine to Cuthbert.
What does that mean to you?
It's really remarkable that we have
the body of the saint from so long ago
in our custody here, as it were.
And so what we do is I think we kind of
bond with Cuthbert's spirit.
We bond with
that deep sense of history and tradition
that Cuthbert represented.
He was a man of profound spirituality
but also very serious human struggle.
Being close to Saint Cuthbert means to me
getting closer to Jesus Christ because of understanding
the way in which Jesus worked through the life of this man,
albeit he lived so very many centuries ago.
For a thousand years, pastors and priests
and ministers like you have been
serving the needs of this community.
That must be kind of an inspiration in itself.
It's a very inspiring thing.
You think of all those years,
500 years before the Reformation,
when the mass was being celebrated.
Then a little hiatus
and then the post-Reformation church.
That too was saying the mass,
we were celebrating Holy Communion,
the daily offers here every day, and we're still part of that.
When you walk through the cathedral,
there's a feeling that it's vibrant and alive.
Absolutely, it is vibrant and alive.
We're completely committed to welcoming all who come.
We're entirely committed to engaging with the arts
and celebrating the good things in life.
That freshness of mission
is integral to the life of the cathedral.
Steves: As if to stress that point,
the medieval Durham cathedral is enlivened
with art from our generation and from its community.
This window gives us a striking overhead view
of the Last Supper,
and this one celebrates the church's 1,000th birthday
with a sweep through local history and industry,
from mining to farming.