Galilee Chapel, Durham Cathedral

All visitors to the cathedral enter through the Galilee, one of the most exquisite parts of the building. It is partly a chapel, partly a porch; a place to assemble before and after church services.

It is Norman in style with four arcades of round arches decorated with elaborate chevrons. There are rare medieval wall paintings here dating from around the time of the Galilee's construction in the 12th century. One of them is almost certainly a depiction of Saint Cuthbert.

The Galilee holds a special place in the hearts of people across North East England because it is the final resting place of the Venerable Bede. It is thanks to Bede's writings that we know so much about the church in England in Anglo-Saxon times and about Saint Cuthbert in particular. Known as the 'Father of English History', Bede was born in about 673 and joined the monastic community at Wearmouth, aged just seven. He transferred to the newly-founded monastery of Jarrow soon afterwards. He spent the rest of his life there. He was the most accomplished scholar of his day - historian, theologian, poet, scientist, biographer, and author of many commentaries on the bible.

There is also a striking wooden statue of Mary by the 20th century Polish sculptor Joseph Pyrz, which identifies the Galilee as the Lady Chapel.Read more