Cathedral that launched crisis campaign hits £300,000 fundraising target
A cathedral whose leaders warned it may have to go part-time amid escalating costs is celebrating reaching a £300,000 fundraising target to ensure it can remain open.
The Peterborough Cathedral Crisis Campaign was launched earlier this year as an 'urgent fundraising appeal to secure its future'.
Church leaders said that without raising £300,000 by the end of March, the cathedral may no longer be able to keep its doors open seven days a week.
The Very Rev Christopher Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, said he was 'hugely delighted' that the fundraising target had been reached.
But he cautioned that the cathedral continues to operate on 'fine margins in a challenging financial environment'.
Speaking when the campaign was launched earlier this year, he said the cathedral 'urgently' needed support to 'keep its doors open and ensure it remains 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'.
It was announced on Monday that the cathedral had exceeded its £300,000 fundraising target after more than 1,000 individual donors contributed.
A 'significant anonymous donation' helped push the total beyond the goal, it was revealed.
The support means the cathedral can remain open and begin projects aimed at securing its long-term future.
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.
'However, we are in no way complacent.
'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.'
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The Independent
31-03-2025
- The Independent
Cathedral that launched crisis campaign hits £300,000 fundraising target
A cathedral whose leaders warned it may have to go part-time amid escalating costs is celebrating reaching a £300,000 fundraising target to ensure it can remain open. The Peterborough Cathedral Crisis Campaign was launched earlier this year as an 'urgent fundraising appeal to secure its future'. Church leaders said that without raising £300,000 by the end of March, the cathedral may no longer be able to keep its doors open seven days a week. The Very Rev Christopher Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, said he was 'hugely delighted' that the fundraising target had been reached. But he cautioned that the cathedral continues to operate on 'fine margins in a challenging financial environment'. Speaking when the campaign was launched earlier this year, he said the cathedral 'urgently' needed support to 'keep its doors open and ensure it remains 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'. It was announced on Monday that the cathedral had exceeded its £300,000 fundraising target after more than 1,000 individual donors contributed. A 'significant anonymous donation' helped push the total beyond the goal, it was revealed. The support means the cathedral can remain open and begin projects aimed at securing its long-term future. 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. 'However, we are in no way complacent. '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.'
BBC News
31-03-2025
- BBC News
Peterborough Cathedral 'relieved' to exceed fundraising target
A city cathedral has exceeded its fundraising target which has enabled it to stay January, the team at Peterborough Cathedral said it needed to raise £300,000 by the end of March to remain open seven days a week and avoid having to consider entrance of Peterborough Cathedral, Very Reverend Chris Dalliston, said: "We're hugely delighted and relieved to have achieved and exceeded our £300,000 target."However, we are in no way complacent. This is only the first step in building a long-term sustainable future for the cathedral." 'Operating on fine margins' He added: "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."The funds raised will allow the cathedral to begin essential projects aimed at securing its long-term Church of England has funded two key positions at the cathedral, and recent events such as the Longest Yarn have attracted thousands of new visitors to the building. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Guardian
20-01-2025
- The Guardian
‘We need people to recognise the urgency': Peterborough Cathedral faces financial ruin
Beneath the breathtaking oak ceiling of Peterborough Cathedral, on which images of kings, saints, bishops and a monkey riding a goat were painted nine centuries ago, the Very Rev Chris Dalliston pondered how to keep this magnificent edifice afloat in the face of financial calamity. Dalliston, the cathedral's de facto CEO in a dog collar, has done his best to avert the looming crisis. The cathedral, built as a monastery in the 12th century, has become a venue for concerts, banquets, exhibitions, corporate events and even a controversial Ibiza-themed party night as well as daily religious services. Assets have been sold or rented. But the costs of maintaining a Grade I-listed masterpiece and paying staff wages have soared. Dalliston has been forced to launch an emergency appeal to raise £300,000 by the end of March to avoid running out of money. 'Our cashflow is critical,' said Dalliston, who has been the cathedral's dean for seven years. If the appeal is unsuccessful, he faces painful decisions, including whether to shut its doors for several days a week for the first time in its history and making it the only part-time cathedral in the country. 'When people come to our cathedral, they are awestruck by the building. It is one of the great Norman buildings of England, with an extraordinary history. It has survived all kinds of trials and tribulations,' he added. There has been a place of worship on the site since the seventh century. It is the burial place of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife, and Mary, Queen of Scots, who was later reburied at Westminster Abbey. It was transformed from an abbey to a cathedral in the Reformation, and was later plundered and damaged by Oliver Cromwell's troops in the civil war. Now it costs over £2m a year – almost £6,000 a day – to run. About 15% of that comes from the Church of England (C of E), and the remainder must be raised by the cathedral through events, rent, grants and donations. Nothing comes from the government. The costs are soaring. 'There have been three or four years of erosion of our reserves. Post-Covid, visitor numbers were low and events were slow to pick up. There has been a huge rise in the cost of utilities – our bill has gone up by more than £100,000 a year across the estate, a huge additional expense,' said Dalliston. 'The cost of managing the property and employing people has risen – and now we're facing increases in the living wage and employers' national insurance contributions. We want to be a responsible employer but these things impact our bottom line.' The cathedral employs the equivalent of 25 full-time workers, including musicians, education staff and gardeners. 'It's quite a skeleton staff for a big operation,' said Dalliston. There are also about 400 volunteers. The annual budget covers routine maintenance but not any major works of restoration or repair. Last year's income from events broke records, thanks to 'hard work, enterprise and ingenuity', said Dalliston. But it was still not enough, especially with falling income from donations. 'Peterborough is not a wealthy city. It's not a hotspot on the tourist trail, it's not seen as glamorous. In recent years, footfall has not been high in the city centre. We've lost our big department stores. People have been badly affected by the cost of living crisis.' Government funding would help, said Dalliston. England's 42 Anglican cathedrals are 'part of our national heritage, each with a unique story. These buildings belong to everyone and are open to everyone.' Indeed, the first donation after launching the appeal last week was a cheque for £1,000 from the Muslim Council of Peterborough. More support from the C of E nationally would be welcome, said Dalliston. The Church Commissioners, who manage a £10.4bn investment fund on behalf of the church, pay the salaries of the dean and two canons at Peterborough as well as annual grant. 'I know the commissioners have many demands,' said Dalliston. 'The difficulties of maintaining heritage buildings is not confined to cathedrals – parish churches are struggling too. But a little more support would be enormously helpful.' The Guardian understands that the commissioners have no plans to provide additional funding in response to the cathedral's emergency appeal. The Association of English Cathedrals said: 'With no regular income, cathedrals have to rely on donations, legacies and grants, and all have to be creative in building an economy around them to be sustainable, especially in these challenging financial times that have seen soaring utility and cost of living bills for everyone. 'Our cathedrals include Unesco world heritage sites, many are Grade I-listed, and they are home to the tombs of kings, queens and princes and hold the shrines of saints. They also care for some of the country's most unique treasures, from the Mappa Mundi and copies of the Magna Carta to ancient texts and other treasures, and stand strong at the heart of the nation at times of national sorrow or national celebration.' Ten of the 42 cathedrals charge an entrance fee. Peterborough could be forced to become the 11th, but 'we're very reluctant because it could deter visitors', said Dalliston. It may also have to cut back on its community work, such as support for refugees. 'We're a spiritual hub and a community space in the heart of the city. But we also have to run this as a business,' said Dalliston. 'We need people to recognise the urgency of the situation. We're not crying wolf.'
