Beneath the breathtaking painted ceiling of Peterborough Cathedral, a 900-year-old architectural wonder, the Very Rev Chris Dalliston is facing a financial nightmare. As costs soar to over £2 million per year, this historic icon of England’s heritage finds itself on the brink of ruin. In a desperate attempt to keep the doors open, Dalliston has launched an urgent appeal to raise £300,000 by the end of March. The alternative, he warns, may be the previously unthinkable – Peterborough becoming the nation’s first “part-time” cathedral.
A Mounting Crisis
The majestic Norman-era cathedral, consecrated in 1238, has weathered many storms throughout its venerable history. It survived the Reformation, Civil War looting, and centuries of wear and tear. But now it faces perhaps its greatest challenge yet – a toxic combination of post-pandemic visitor shortfalls, skyrocketing energy bills, and rising staff costs. Despite the cathedral’s best efforts to boost revenue through events and rentals, the situation has reached a critical point.
“Our cashflow is critical. 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.”
The Very Rev Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough Cathedral
Painful Decisions Loom
If the £300,000 emergency fundraising drive fails, Dalliston will be forced to contemplate previously unthinkable measures. Closing the cathedral for several days each week would make it unique in England – the only one not open daily for worship and visitors. Staff redundancies would be inevitable. Even introducing an admission charge, something the cathedral has long resisted, may be on the table.
It currently costs about £6,000 per day to keep the Grade I-listed cathedral running. That’s over £2 million annually, of which only around 15% comes from the central Church of England coffers. For the rest, it’s down to the cathedral to raise through its own efforts and the generosity of the local community in Peterborough – a city facing its own economic challenges.
A Plea for Help
Dalliston is hopeful that the Church of England and government might be able to provide additional support, arguing that cathedrals like Peterborough are “part of our national heritage” and should be maintained for all. Indeed, the first donation to the emergency appeal came not from an Anglican source, but the Muslim Council of Peterborough, who gave £1,000.
“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. We need people to recognise the urgency of the situation. We’re not crying wolf.”
The Very Rev Chris Dalliston
The coming weeks will be critical in determining the fate of this irreplaceable piece of England’s religious, architectural and cultural patrimony. The hope is that a combination of local generosity, church support and national awareness can help bridge the cathedral’s financial chasm. For now though, the race is on to raise £300,000 by the end of March deadline. The alternative – Peterborough Cathedral falling silent for part of each week – is a prospect no one wants to contemplate.
