The Friends are the Cathedral's fan club, a group of like-minded people who admire the building, its history and the community which surrounds it.
We work together to preserve it, and, with the great generosity of our membership, contribute financially to many vital projects.
Why join?
Over the years The Friends have given the equivalent of more than £18 million towards various projects to enhance and preserve Canterbury Cathedral. 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.
Membership Benefits
- Free entry to the Cathedral and its Precincts
- Full annual programme of Friends' events
- New member celebration (which includes a private guided tour)
- 10% discount at the Cathedral Shop and Cathedral Lodge (some exclusions apply)
- Exclusive Friends’ Day each summer
- Monthly Friendly Friday e-newsletters
- Annual Cathedral magazine - view a sample of The Chronicle
- Twice-yearly paper mailings
- Membership badge
- Exclusive Friends’ Day each summer
For more information download The Friends leaflet.
Membership Options
Gift a Friends' Membership
Membership of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral – the Cathedral’s fan club – is the gift that lasts all year.
We work together to preserve the Cathedral, and, with the great generosity of our membership, contribute financially to many vital projects.
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.
So, when you gift a membership, you also give the gift of being part of our FRIENDly community!
Friends also benefit from free entry to the Cathedral and its Precincts, access to exclusive trips and events, e-newsletters, a 10% discount in the Cathedral Shop and Cathedral Lodge (some exclusions apply), an annual Friends’ Day, Friends’ Carol Service, and a special welcome event in the summer.
Membership starts at just £35 and includes a welcome pack with a Friends’ card and badge.
The Friends can even dispatch the gift on your behalf!
Friends' Day 2025
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Friends’ Day and helped to make it such a success.
If you are a Friend who was unable to be with us this year, or are someone interested in the work of our Cathedral’s fan club, please find the links below to watch our Annual General Meeting recording and access our Annual Report and Financial Statements (31 March 2025).
History of The Friends
The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral was founded in 1927 by the then Dean of Canterbury, George Bell. The organization was the first of its kind in the world.
In 1928 Miss Margaret Babington joined Dean Bell as Steward. A redoubtable woman of enormous energy and tremendous vision, she made a huge contribution to the success of the Friends. She staged plays and concerts and enticed illustrious people such as John Masefield, Sir Adrian Boult, Gustav Holst, Dorothy L. Sayers and Dame Myra Hess to the Cathedral. Rudyard Kipling and George Bernard Shaw became enthusiastic members.
Margaret Babington, the energy behind the Friends when it started, handed over her baton to many other stewards and executive secretaries, all of whom have put their own stamp on the efforts of the Friends, and made it the successful charity and membership organisation it is today.
Over the years The Friends have given the equivalent of more than £15 million towards various projects to enhance and preserve Canterbury Cathedral.
Our President is The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Prior to her death, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was our First Friend on the Roll, and the former Prince of Wales was our Patron.
Upcoming Friends events
MONTHLY
FRIENDly Singing for Wellbeing
St Paul’s Church Hall, Canterbury, CT1 1NH
ALL welcome – rusty singers included!
Turn up for a cuppa and a biscuit, followed by sociable singing to put a smile on your face, led by Jamie Rogers, Assistant Director of Music, and our Choral Scholars.
Please join us between 14:00-15:00 on the following Mondays:
NO session in July 2026
- 14 September 2026
- 12 October 2026
- 2 November 2026
- 14 December 2026
This is a free event, but donations to help sustain this monthly event are welcomed.
All welcome. No need to book.
Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Charity No 1210093).
Friends' Day
This event took place on Friday 4 July 2025
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Friends’ Day and helped to make it such a success.
If you are a Friend who was unable to be with us this year, or are someone interested in the work of our Cathedral’s fan club, you can watch our Annual General Meeting recording and access our Annual Report and Financial Statements (31 March 2025).
A FRIENDLY TALK
Eva Braun – Victim or Contriver?
Tuesday 22 September, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
Hear the story of the woman who devoted her life to Hitler. A former saleswoman and photographer’s assistant, Braun lived a secluded life in Hitler’s circle and had no known children. She remained largely unknown to the German public until after the War.
The material of the talk is sensitively presented.
Popular speaker, Melanie Gibson-Barton returns to speak to Friends and reveal more about this now infamous woman.
£10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee on arrival.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY TALK
Canterbury’s Pubs – 1,000 Years of Pilgrims, Drinking, and History
Friday 25 September, 10:30-11:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
Following on from her highly-popular talk on Aphra Behn two years ago, Charlotte Cornell returns to speak about the inns, public houses, and taverns which have formed a major part of the history of Canterbury over the last millennia.
Offering refuge to weary pilgrims to the city or as social hubs for local citizens, how have these hostelries shaped and influenced local architecture and culture?
Cornell will reveal more about some of the characters who once trod the cobblestones of Canterbury in search of refreshment.
£10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee on arrival.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY TALK
King Charles III – 40 Years of Architecture
Monday 5 October, 14:30-15:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
King Charles III’s affection for architecture is well-known, but the extent of his engagement has never been fully presented to the public.
In this talk inspired by his book on the subject, Clive Aslet will draw together the many threads, from the ‘carbuncle’ speech made at Hampton Court in 1984 until his accession to the throne.
The four decades of the King's commitment to architecture have coincided with Clive Aslet's career as a journalist, during which he has followed the story and often written about it, not least during the 13 years for which he was editor of Country Life.
£10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral; £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee on arrival.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
A FRIENDLY EVENT
Quilters’ Guild Partnership Class
Wednesday 28 October, 10:00-16:00 in the Community Studio
An inaugural class run in partnership with The Quilters’ Guild.
Students will be creating a design inspired by our Cathedral’s Cosmati Pavement using the English Paper Piecing quilting method. More information and details of how to book will be released in the autumn.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
Giving to The Friends
Please consider making a donation to The Friends to ensure we can continue our work in preserving the Cathedral for generations to come.
- Donate to The Friends online
- Call +44 (0)1227 865292 to donate over the telephone by credit or debit card.
- Send a gift by post to: The Friends’ Office, Cathedral House, 11 The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2EH. Please make cheques payable to ‘The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral’.
Why not give a gift in memory of someone special?
Please let us have the person’s name when you send us your donation and we will record this gift in our annual publication, The Chronicle.
Leave a gift in your will
You can make a real difference to our work and provide valuable support for future generations to come by leaving a gift to The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral in your will. Nearly all legacies to charities are free from inheritance tax.
A possible form of words for such bequests is:
I bequeath to The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral, Cathedral House, 11 The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2EH, registered charity number 1210093, the sum of … (for a specific sum) or the residue (or a … share of the residue) of my estate.
Renew your membership
Join FOCCUS
Become an American Friend
The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral in the United States (FOCCUS) offers Americans the opportunity to play a meaningful role in supporting the life of the Cathedral in all its many programs.
If you live in the United States or are an American citizen, we invite you to deepen your connection with the Cathedral by joining FOCCUS and the worldwide Cathedral family, a global network of Friends and donors who are dedicated to supporting this incredible place.
