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.
Planning your visit? Remember to check our closures.
Canterbury Cathedral typically receives no funding from Government or the Church of England. It costs over £20,000 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.
In Memory Giving
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” – Matthew 5:4
Remember someone’s life by supporting a cause close to their heart – Canterbury Cathedral.
You can give a one-off gift or set up a regular donation in memory of someone special who has died. Your gift will mean that Canterbury Cathedral will stand in perpetuity, and the memory of the person you have lost will be kept alive in the mission, music and conservation of this place.
Every gift In Memory will be acknowledged with:
- Your loved one’s name in our online Book of Remembrance - click here to see it.
- an invitation to the next Benefactors’ Service so that you are present at the blessing of those remembered in the Book of Remembrance; and
- a keepsake Canterbury Cathedral In Memory card.
Gifts of £1,000 and over may be restricted to Stone Conservation, the Archives and Library, Stained Glass or Music and can lead to:
- initials carved on the inside of a new stone to be fixed on the building;
- a dedication inside the conservation housing of a historic book or document in our Archives and Library;
- a name engraved on the leadwork of the protective glazing of our stained glass; or
- music at a service of your choice dedicated to your loved one’s memory.
How to give in memory:
- Donate online – make a gift in memory today using our online form
- JustGiving – an online donation in memory through JustGiving
- Bank Transfer – a direct payment to our bank account. Contact our team for details.
- By Cheque – download our In Memory donation form and send it with a cheque made payable to ‘Canterbury Cathedral’
Please do get in touch to tell us more about the person you would like to remember, or to discuss making a gift, email us at [email protected]. It would be lovely to hear from you.
Thank you.
Giving in your Will
“For the miracle is that this Cathedral was conceived and built by ordinary men and women like ourselves. And it is our responsibility to hand on that inheritance into the future.” – Victor De Waal, Dean of Canterbury (1977)
Create a lasting link with your Cathedral
Thank you for considering leaving a legacy to Canterbury Cathedral in your Will. By doing so you are giving the ultimate gift which could help ensure the future of the Cathedral for generations to come. The needs of Canterbury Cathedral are constantly changing. The most beneficial gift would be an unrestricted bequest, allowing us to make the best use of your gift at the time we receive it. We always recommend that you consult with a solicitor before writing, or making changes to, your Will.
Click here to see our leaflet, including more information about different types of legacies. With that in mind, here is some suggested wording:
‘I give to Canterbury Cathedral (state the % residue or sum of money you wish to give) and request without obligation that it be used:
- To support their general work
- To conserve the Cathedral’s fabric
- To support the Archives and Library
- In support of music
- To support education programmes
- Other (please specify)
Augustine Legacy Circle
We are delighted to welcome to our Augustine Legacy Circle those who are planning to leave us a bequest. The Circle is a group of like-minded people who share a passion for protecting our Cathedral for the future. In gratitude for their bequest, members of the Circle will:
- Receive an invitation to an annual Augustine Legacy Circle event at the Cathedral.
- Receive tailored Cathedral updates and behind the scenes information.
- Be among the first to hear about special events and exhibitions at the Cathedral.
- Receive recognition of their support in perpetuity at the Cathedral.
If you would like a no obligation, confidential chat about leaving us a legacy or joining the Augustine Legacy Circle, please contact [email protected] or 01227 865343.
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 over £20,000 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.
Who’s who in the Fundraising Department?
Joanna Luck – Head of Fundraising (including the Cathedral Trust)
Sam Royle – Trusts and Research Manager
Summer Alp – Fundraising Officer
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