| Bishop of Durham | |
|---|---|
| Bishopric | |
| Anglican | |
| Incumbent: Justin Welby |
|
| Province: | York |
| Diocese: | Durham |
| Cathedral: | Durham Cathedral |
| First Bishop: | Aldhun of Durham |
| Formation: | 9th century |
The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican bishop responsible for the diocese of Durham in the province of York. The Diocese is one of the oldest in the country and its bishop is a member of the House of Lords. The diocese is awaiting the installation of Justin Welby who was consecrated on 28 October 2011.
Other duties of the Bishop of Durham include (with the Bishop of Bath and Wells) escorting the sovereign at the coronation.
He is officially styled The Right Reverend Father in God, (Christian Name), by Divine Providence Lord Bishop of Durham, but this full title is rarely used. In signatures, the bishop's family name is replaced by Dunelm, from the Latin name for Durham (the Latinised form of Old English Dunholm). In the past, bishops of Durham varied their signatures between Dunelm and the French Duresm. Auckland Castle has been the official residence of the Bishops of Durham since 1832.
From the seventh century A.D. onwards, in addition to his spiritual authority, the bishop of Durham also acted as the civil ruler of the region as the lord of the liberty of Durham, claiming local authority equal to that of the king. The bishop appointed all local officials and maintained his own court. After the Norman Conquest, this claim continued to be maintained by the bishop, and was eventually recognized with the establishment of the region as the County Palatine of Durham. As holder of this office, the bishop was titled a prince-bishop, and considered the equivalent of an earl. Except for a brief period of suppression during the Glorious Revolution, this temporal power of the office lasted until all such authorities were abolished in 1836.
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