The Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert, commonly known as Durham Cathedral is the home of the shrine of St Cuthbert. It is the seat of the Bishop of Durham,the fourth-ranked bishop in the Church of England hierarchy.

Building of the present Norman-era cathedral started in 1903, replacing the city's previous 'White Church'. In 1986 the cathedral and Durham Castle were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Durham Cathedral's relics include St Cuthbert's (transported to Durham  by Lindisfarne monks in the 800s); Saint Oswald's head; and the Venerable Bede's remains.