Sustaining Worship, Welcome and Heritage Consultation

An Update from The Dean | 11 June 2026

I am so grateful for the huge response to our recent consultation on the Cathedral’s Long-Term Financial Sustainability. Across more than 1,200 survey responses, 141 visitor intercept questionnaires and a wide programme of interviews and focus groups, the consistent message is that financial support is generally shaped by certain conditions:

- free and unhindered access to worship, private prayer and pastoral support must remain an absolute principle;

- valuing and protecting the values of belonging and fairness;

- visible visitor welcome and experience improvements;

- honest communication of the financial need.

As I said at the launch, our vocation as a place of worship remains unchanged and access for prayer, services and pastoral ministry is not under review. The Cathedral will continue to be a place of faith, welcome, heritage, community and civic life. At its heart, this is a question of stewardship: how the Cathedral strengthens long-term resilience while remaining true to its mission, legitimacy and role at the heart of the city and Diocese. All of this will help us make a firm plan for the future and we will continue to keep you informed.

Consultation on the Cathedral’s Long-Term Financial Sustainability

Introduction
Worcester Cathedral is undertaking a consultation as it considers how best to secure its long-term financial sustainability.
Like many historic institutions, we are experiencing rising running and maintenance costs. While careful financial management and support from our endowment have enabled us to balance budgets in recent years, this has reduced our reserves and increased our reliance on investment income. To remain resilient and financially sustainable in the years ahead, we need to strengthen and diversify our recurring income streams.
As an independent charity responsible for funding our own ministry and the care of this historic building, we must plan responsibly for the future.

Please view the video message from Dean Stephen below for further context.

What Is Being Considered?
This consultation explores whether visitor income might play a stronger role within a wider financial sustainability plan, including the potential introduction of a charged entry fee for visitors.
No decisions have been taken. The purpose of this consultation is to gather informed and honest views before any next steps are considered.

What Is Not Under Consideration?
Our vocation as a place of worship remains unchanged and access for prayer, services and pastoral ministry is not under review.
The Cathedral will continue to be a place of faith, welcome, heritage, community and civic life.

Survey
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts.
The survey is now closed, and your feedback will play an important part in shaping the next stage of this work.

This page will be updated as the consultation progresses.