Our sightseeing hours have changed. Check our opening times and upcoming closures.
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 2024
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Friends’ Day and helped to make it such a success.
Watch our Annual General Meeting recording, access our Annual Report and Financial Statements (31 March 2024), and watch individual films about the Cathedral Lodge Dry Garden, Sacred Space group, and an update on the Deanery Development – all projects which have been generously supported by a grant from The Friends.
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.
LIMITED TIME ONLY FREE* ART INSTALLATION
moon landing: an immersive music and textile collaboration
9 June - 31 August 2025
This summer, we are hosting the breathtaking installation moon landing; a duo work created by British textile artist and designer of woven textiles, Margo Selby, in collaboration with award-winning composer, Helen Caddick.
*moon landing is free-to-view by anyone with a valid form of Cathedral sightseeing admission (including Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends’ Card), or those attending a service in the Quire.
Images: moon landing at Canterbury Cathedral © Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral | Jon Barlow
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:
Please note, there will be no FRIENDly Singing in July and August
- 8 September
FURTHER DATES FOR 2025-26 TO BE ANNOUNCED
Free to attend but donations welcomed.
All welcome. No need to book.
Organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Charity No 1210093).
FREE* RSN Family Drop-in Workshop
Saturday 28 June, 11:00-15:00 in the Community Studio
Create your own beautiful motif with Royal School of Needlework Tutor, Kathryn Sanders, from a selection of designs and bubble words.
The perfect handmade piece to display in your home or to give as a special gift.
This free* event is proudly presented in partnership with The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral's, through their unique association with the Royal School of Needlework.
Kindly supported by The Worshipful Company of Broderers.
Drop-in activity; no need to book.
Both children and adults welcome. Suitable for ages 4+ (parents/carers may need to assist younger children)
*Included free with a valid Cathedral Admission Ticket, Cathedral Pass or Friends’ Card. Kids go FREE every day! (T&Cs apply); does not apply to group bookings or school visits.
A FRIENDLY TALK
Pepper – the King of the Spices
Tuesday 1 July, 14:30-15:30 in the Clagett Auditorium
Known as the ‘King of Spices’, pepper is the most important spice traded internationally.
Popular speaker and culinary food historian, Terrie Chrones returns from the United States to tell us more about this spice: a hot topic weaving through religious and secular connections and even Canterbury itself.
Tickets: £10 Friends of Canterbury Cathedral, £15 non-members. Includes tea and coffee.
This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).
Friends' Day
Friday 4 July
Please see Friends' Day programme - sent to all Friends.
If you have not received this, please contact the Friends Office:
01227 865292
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
Stay in the loop
Sign up to our newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest events, news and offers
By adding my email I confirm my subscription to the newsletter and understand that the email address provided will be held by the Cathedral and the email service company (dotdigital) to use for distributing this newsletter only. For more information please see the Cathedral Privacy Notice.
