Cathedral on the financial ropes can stay open after donors raise £300,000

Telegraph

31-03-2025

A medieval cathedral which faced financial ruin can now stay open after donors raised £300,000 for its upkeep.
In January, a campaign was launched as an 'urgent fundraising appeal' to secure the future of the Peterborough Cathedral, which is one of the most intact large Norman buildings in England.
Church leaders said that without raising £300,000 by the end of March, the landmark would no longer be able to keep its doors open for free seven days a week.
But it was announced on Monday that the campaign had exceeded its £300,000 fundraising target after more than 1,000 individual donors contributed.
The Very Rev Christopher Dalliston, the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, said he was 'hugely delighted' that the fundraising target had been reached.
The support means the cathedral can remain open and begin projects aimed at securing its long-term future.
A 'significant anonymous donation' helped push the total beyond the goal, it was revealed.
When the campaign was launched earlier this year, the Dean described the cathedral as 'a place of inspiration and sanctuary for all'.
He said the cathedral has been 'at the heart of Peterborough and the diocese for nearly 1,400 years'.
Renowned for its early English Gothic front, the cathedral was founded as a monastery in 655 and rebuilt in its present form between 1118 and 1238.
It has had both Catherine of Aragon and Mary, Queen of Scots, buried beneath its paving; though the remains of the latter were removed when James I became King of England.
The Dean said: 'We're hugely delighted – and relieved – to have achieved and exceeded our £300,000 target.
'We are also truly humbled by the depth and breadth of support from over 1,000 generous individual donors and other groups and institutions, within the city and beyond, who have helped us achieve this goal and ensure that the doors of our cathedral will remain open to all.
'Every gift, however great or small, is so greatly appreciated.'
But he added that the cathedral continues to operate on 'fine margins'.
He said: 'This is only the first step in building a long-term sustainable future for the cathedral.
'We continue to operate on fine margins in a challenging financial environment, and over the coming year we shall need to continue to work hard to strengthen our network of supporters and develop additional sources of revenue to ensure we remain a vibrant community, serving our city, our diocese, and the wider region.'