The hugely popular Miners’ Festival Service at Durham Cathedral will return this weekend as part of the 139th Durham Miners’ Gala.
Miners’ Festival Service – Durham Cathedral Saturday 12th July
Hundreds of people will process up to the cathedral for the service, which takes place at 3pm, and has been part of every Gala since 1897.
This year three new banners will process into the cathedral accompanied by brass and silver bands. They will be blessed as part of the cathedral service by the acting Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Sarah Clark.
The new banners are Bearpark, Thornley, which will be accompanied by Thurcroft Welfare Band and Tursdale Mechanics with the Bowburn Banner Group and Kippax Band
The Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) Brass Band will lead the bands and banners into the cathedral and play during the service. The procession begins at 2.30pm followed by the service inside the cathedral at 3pm.
Reverend Canon Professor David Wilkinson will preach the sermon. Andy McDonald MP, the member of parliament for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East will give the annual address on behalf of the DMA. The traditional Bible reading will be given by Wendy Hindmarch, a performer with Ensemble ’84, a new local theatre company which is highlighting untapped talent in the region.
Members of Sacriston Youth Project will perform their new poem ‘We are still here’. The work has been commissioned by the Redhills charity for the Gala and the young people have been working with poet Emily Wiseman.
The Very Revd Dr Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham, said,
‘I am looking forward to welcoming people from across our great county and beyond to the Miners’ Festival Service.
‘‘The past we inherit, the future we build’ is a proud motto of the Durham miners, and in a year which will see the reopening of Redhills, the Pitman’s Parliament, we will be looking forward to the future with hope.
DMA Secretary Alan Mardghum said,
“We are deeply proud that the immense contribution of our communities over many generations is celebrated each year in the magnificent setting of Durham Cathedral.
Our thanks as ever to everyone at the cathedral for the work they do and for hosting this service that means so much to us all.”
People are advised to arrive in good time for this popular service. Doors open at 1.30pm and the service will also be live-streamed on Durham Cathedral’s YouTube page here – www.youtube.com/@durhamcathedral1093
