Rochester Cathedral’s doors may be closed but we are still praying and being as supportive as we can. Sadly, with no central funding and an income stream that has dried up our financial future is bleak.  Any donation will help us to remain open for the next 1400 years.

First it was worship and prayer, now it’s collection plates and donations as English cathedrals go online during lockdown.

The buildings might be closed, but cathedrals are offering an exciting and varied programme of worship, prayer, music and pastoral support online as they explore new ways of engaging with and supporting their communities and visitors during lockdown.  

But with donation points, stewardship envelopes and collection plates behind closed doors, “giving” has now joined this new digital revolution with a call for all those who want to donate to a cathedral to go online and pay directly while the buildings are shuttered.

On March 23 all the Church of England cathedrals closed their doors to save lives, protect the NHS and encourage people to stay home. All their cafes, shops, exhibition centres and libraries were closed, all forthcoming tours and events cancelled. As many staff as they could were furloughed to save funds, and volunteers were sent home to keep them safe.

Yet is still costs between £1,800 (Wakefield) and £18,000 (Canterbury) a day to run and maintain the cathedrals, and with no direct or regular funding from the Government or the Church Commissioners, it means they are wholly reliant on visitor donations, gifts from wills, other legacies and grants.

Now donation online is just one part of the explosion in digital output by cathedrals as they find more and more creative and innovative ways across different social media platforms of being church during lockdown.

Donations of any amount are truly appreciated, and we, here at Rochester, invite you to donate via the JustGiving button above.

Our grateful thanks…