Volunteers
Be a part of the Cathedral Community
The Cathedral relies heavily on its team of volunteers to provide a warm Ministry of Welcome to its many worshippers and visitors. Volunteering at the Cathedral can be extremely rewarding, whether you contribute as a Flower Arranger, Holy Duster, Bellringer, Steward or Cathedral Assistant / Guide.
Volunteering for the Visits Department
Before the Reformation in 1540, the Cathedral was a community of Benedictine monks. One of the Benedictine rules was to welcome all visitors as if you were welcoming Christ himself.
We continue to welcome visitors according to this Benedictine rule and our team of staff, volunteer Assistants, Welcomers, Guides, Treasury Custodians and Chaplains is responsible for offering our visitors a high quality experience and warm welcome.
We run an annual training course for new Visits Volunteers from January to April and are always pleased to receive enquiries.
If you are interested, please contact the Visits Office visits@canterbury-cathedral.org Tel: 01227 762862
Volunteering for the Canterbury Gift
In October 2006 an urgent fundraising Appeal was launched to raise £50 million over the next 5 years to save Canterbury Cathedral. Extensive and costly work is needed to conserve the Cathedral's stonemasonry, stained glass windows and lead roof. Major development projects are also required to take the Cathedral into the 21st Century.
There are various opportunities available to assist with the Appeal and these include Office Assistants, Collection Box Co-ordinators, Event Helpers and Appeal Representatives who would visit local groups to give talks or accept cheques on behalf of the charity. Other opportunities are available, for more information please visit the volunteer section of the Canterbury Gift web site
Other Volunteers
It is not just in visitor welcome and fundraising that volunteers are involved.
There are also Holy Stitchers, Bellringers, Holy Dusters and Stewards as well as a Flower Group.
The Holy Stitchers help, amongst other things, to maintain the beautiful vestments worn by the clergy.
The Holy Dusters help the Vesturer’s department clean the Cathedral, and the Stewards assist with the seating for all major and special services.
The members of the Flower Group arrange magnificent floral displays, excelling themselves on special occasions such as the Enthronement of the Archbishop and the Royal Maundy Service.
The thriving Sunday School is also run by voluntary helpers.
Contact Us
Please contact the Cathedral if you are interested in becoming a Cathedral Volunteer.
Tel: 01227 762862
Volunteer as a Cathedral Assistant
Every January we run our ‘Cathedral Assistant Training Course’ which takes place one evening a week, and on a couple of Saturday mornings, for approximately twelve weeks. The course includes lectures in history, architecture and Cathedral life, as well as practical sessions and in-depth tours by our tutor guides. After completing a short assessment successfully, trainees then become qualified Cathedral Assistants who help and greet our visitors, and share knowledge with them about all aspects of the Cathedral.
After gaining some experience as a Cathedral Assistant, usually after about a year of volunteering regularly, there is an opportunity to do the ‘Good Guide’ course. This takes place over three structured sessions and a number of tours and covers guiding techniques and the practicalities of guiding in the Cathedral. Potential Guides shadow a number of guided tours and are assessed conducting their own practice tours before starting to guide the public.
For further details please contact the Visits Office visits@canterbury-cathedral.org
Tel: 01227 762862