We welcome gifts of any size to support our work and there are many ways to give. You can donate online, by sending a cheque made payable to ‘Canterbury Cathedral’ to the Fundraising Department; by making a cash donation into one of our collection boxes in the Cathedral Precincts; or at one of our contactless giving devices.
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Donate to Canterbury Cathedral
The Cathedral typically receives no funding from Government or the Church of England. There are many ways you can donate to Canterbury Cathedral. Scroll down to find out how your donation will help.
Thank you.
How Your Donation Helps
Canterbury Cathedral typically receives no funding from Government or the Church of England. It costs nearly £30,000 per day to keep this special place open.
We desperately need your help to continue serving our local, national and international community. Your donations directly contribute to:
- Conservation – big and small projects on the Cathedral’s stone, stained glass and collections
- Music provision – upkeep of the organ, chorister bursaries, and Choral Scholars
- Learning and Community Engagement – including work with schools and local organisations supporting refugees, the homeless, and older people
- Mission – daily worship at the Cathedral and outreach work
A world without this UNESCO Heritage Site is unthinkable, so please help us to save it for generations to come. Thank you.
Congregational Giving/Offerings
Whether you worship regularly at the Cathedral or make an occasional visit, you may wish to consider making an offering during/after the service. There are various ways in which you can do this, if you choose:
- Parish Giving – this Church of England-approved scheme enables you to set up a regular gift to the Cathedral, with Gift Aid (if appropriate). Full details on the Parish Giving website
- Online Form – you can give a service collection through our website here
- Offertory Envelopes – if you intend giving regularly, you can apply to the Cathedral to receive a numbered envelope. The Fundraising Department will send you a batch of envelopes, each with a number that corresponds to your number on our database. You can put cash or a cheque in one of your envelopes when you attend a service, and put it in the offertory purse. Please contact the Fundraising Department if you are on the Cathedral Roll and would like numbered envelopes.
- You can use one of the contactless devices in the Cathedral.
- Text Giving is also publicised in orders of service and in the pews
- You are also welcome to put cash or a cheque (in a Gift Aid envelope which can be found at the donation points in the Cathedral, if appropriate) in the service collection, or in one of the general donation boxes throughout the Cathedral.
Additionally, at Easter-tide the Cathedral is decorated with lilies which can be dedicated in memory with a donation of any size, and at Christmas, we decorate a Christmas tree with handwritten memories. Keep an eye out on our social media if you wish to take part.
You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us
2 Corinthians 9:11
FAQs
Can I donate to the Cathedral?
How will my donations be used?
Unrestricted gifts are used to help with the running costs of the Cathedral. It costs nearly £30,000 per day to keep the Cathedral open, and donations supplement our visitor income to help pay for staff, activities and projects, big and small. If you would particularly like to support a certain aspect of our work, that is usually possible – please contact the Fundraising Department for a chat.
We don’t receive funding from the Government or Church of England so have to generate all our funds ourselves. We do this by charging an entrance fee to the Cathedral, by renting out some of the properties we own and through the Cathedral Lodge and Shop. However, this commercial income does not cover all aspects of our work. We therefore need to raise funds through donations and grants to undertake special projects and to help sustain the Cathedral community.
What is the difference between Fundraising, the Cathedral Trust and the Friends?
The Fundraising Department is responsible for raising money to help with the day-to-day running of the Cathedral. We do this by seeking donations (one-off or regular), by encouraging congregational giving, by promoting the Becket Patrons programme (for people giving £750+ per year), through the Augustine Legacy Circle (for people who have pledged to leave a gift in their Will) and through appeals. The majority of this income is unrestricted which means the Cathedral can use it wherever it is needed most. Click here to fill in the donation form.
The Cathedral Trust is a separate charity which raises significant funding for special projects, mainly through major donors and charitable trusts/foundations.
The Friends is a membership scheme. The Cathedral's 'fan club', The Friends are a group of like-minded people who admire the building, its history and the community which surrounds it. Becoming a Friend is not only about restoring a beautiful old building; it’s about being a part of a community and forming lasting relationships, one which enjoys many activities and ‘behind the scenes’ events. You can find out more about the Friends here.
Where can I get more information?
The Fundraising Department will be happy to help with any queries. Please email [email protected] or phone 01227 865343.
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