Durham Cathedral tomorrow opens its doors to a new £3.9 million exhibition telling the history of the 923-year-old building and its 14th century monastic life, with treasures from the past and present.
Made possible by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Open Treasure shows in particular how Christianity spread in the North East of England after Saint Cuthbert in the seventh century became Prior of Lindisfarne.
Cuthbert's body, moved from Lindisfarne to Durham where it still lies, was one of the nation's top pilgrimage sites for centuries and still attracts many visitors to the cathedral.
The collection on show includes Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Roman stones and casts, including towering crosses that loom over visitors' heads as they enter the Monks' Dormitory.
There is also a timeline of the Cathedral's history and interactive exhibits.
The Great Kitchen will in about a year house the Treasures of St Cuthbert including fragments of his wooden coffin and his Pectoral Cross. One aim of the exhibition, expected to attract 120,000 visitors a year, is to help maintain free entry to the cathedral.
The exhibition itself is not free however. It is hoped it will increase income through the redevelopment of the cathedral shop and Undercroft Restaurant, as well as a programme of events.
Dean of Durham Andrew Tremlett said: "The economic viability of our churches is an important and sensitive subject and here at Durham Cathedral we pride ourselves on our free entry policy, but just like any ancient building, we have important maintenance work to do and overheads to meet. We therefore took the decision to charge a modest entry fee for Open Treasure.
"Open Treasure and the wider project it forms a part of are an essential part of us becoming more financially viable and in doing so, ensuring that this majestic place of sanctuary and pilgrimage can remain freely open to all who wish to visit."
Richard Morris, trustee of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, said: "A place of worship for thousands and a spectacular attraction drawing visitors from near and far to the city, Durham Cathedral is a heritage treasure in the North East. The Open Treasure exhibition will not only boost the cathedral's continuing popularity but will also keep its visitors at the heart of its heritage."
Work began on the cathedral in 1093 and took 40 years. It replaced a Saxon cathedral built by the Community of St Cuthbert after it arrived in Durham in 995 following its flight from the "Holy Island" of Lindisfarne 80 miles north of Durham.
The body of St Cuthbert is enshrined in the Feretory at Durham Cathedral and the Tomb of the Venerable Bede is in The Galilee Chapel. The Cathedral existed as a Benedictine Monastery until 1539 when it became one of the Church of England's major cathedrals.
It continues to be a focus for pilgrimage and attracts over 700,000 visitors each year from all over the world.
