Geographical scope and jurisdictions covered by the collection
- Crayke in North Yorkshire formed a detached part of Durham diocese.
- Hexham and Hexhamshire, though within Northumberland, formed a detached part of York diocese.
- Thockrington in Northumberland (a peculiar of a canon of York Cathedral)
- Northallerton and Allertonshire in North Yorkshire (peculiars of the Bishop of Durham, and of the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral)
- Howden and Howdenshire in East Yorkshire (a peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral)
In 1882, the diocese was divided. The newly created Newcastle diocese embraced the whole of the historic county of Northumberland, together with Alston and its chapelries in Cumberland. The diocese of Durham then became roughly co-terminous with the historic (pre-1974) County Durham. Several series of loose items were split at this stage, so that some pre-1882 material was transferred to Newcastle diocese (and is now at Northumberland Archives). Details are given within the detailed catalogues.
Constituent parts of the diocese
- The Bishop of Durham leads the church within the diocese, and undertakes spiritual functions for which episcopal orders are required (such as ordinations, confirmations and consecrations).
- The Spiritual Chancellor is the judge within the bishop's consistory court, where matters subject to his spiritual jurisdiction are considered. These include ecclesiastical concerns (such as clergy discipline, granting of licences for marriages where banns have not been published, and faculties for alterations to church buildings and consecrated churchyards), but also matters previously considered religious but now dealt with in secular (civil) courts (such as, until the 19th century, proving of wills, upholding marital contracts and rights, and many forms of defamation or slander).
- The Synod (since 1970) or Conference (1929-1970) is akin to a 'parliament' for the diocese. Its principle committee is called the Board of Finance, which owns all diocesan property and is a charitable body in its own right. Most of the non-episcopal administration of the diocese is carried out by this and by the other boards and committees that report to Synod.
From the guide to the Durham Diocesan Records, 1494 onwards but predominantly 18th-20th centuries, (Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections)
