Durham Castle

Durham Castle seems to sit in the shadow of its bigger, taller neighbour, the great cathedral. The former was once the home and administrative centre of its bishop, and upon entering County Durham, one is advised that it is (or rather was) ‘the land of the prince-bishops’. Being so close to Scotland and away from the centre of power in London, the bishops of Durham were entrusted with greater powers than most of their colleagues. They had the power of royal dukes, and were able to dispense civil justice and maintain armies, which accounts for their princely status. The last Prince Bishop was William Van Mildert who died in 1836; subsequent bishops have only enjoyed ecclesiastical powers and those common to any leaders of large organisations and owners of land.

The mixing of civil and religious powers is seldom helpful. This is why America’s Founding Fathers were so keen to separate the two. Scotland and England are two of the few places around the world which still have state churches -and what disappointing witnesses they have proved to be. Religious leaders with civil powers tend to either sell out to worldly wisdom, or impose an intolerant, bitter religiosity on a nation, such as we find in Iran. So keep the castles, courts and armies; the leaders of God’s people derive their authority from God’s word, not man’s might.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:9