At a time when issues of housing, poverty, regional regeneration, education and national security are constantly in the media, one could reasonably ask what exactly do these cathedrals mean to us and what is their worth. Structurally, culturally, economically and emotionally?
The public could be excused for asking, “What is all the fuss about?” When many, many other pressing day to day concerns face us and demand a solution; How do we justify our expenditure on historic buildings and inform the public of the role cathedrals play in the twenty first century ?
Cathedrals live at the very heart of England’s heritage and as such their presence is indeed difficult and complex to interpret and assess. These great cultural and spiritual edifices are a kind of omnipresent reminder of times past. They represent both a glorious achievement and a huge challenge. They also continue to host and bear witness to our current celebrations, festivals and mourning.
While many people have intuitively understood the value of cathedrals, until quite recently their wider significance has been overlooked. It has also been difficult to quantify or put figures on the considerable economic and social contribution made by cathedrals locally and nationally. As a response to this “problem” of assessment, research was jointly commissioned in 2004 by English Heritage (as part of Heritage Counts) and the Association of English Cathedrals. Entitled, The Economic and Social Impacts of Cathedrals in England the research revealed that nearly nine million people visited England’s Anglican cathedrals that year. That is two million more than visited Blackpool Pleasure Beach, five million more than went on the London Eye and almost double the number of visitors to the British Museum in the same year. The findings demonstrated without a doubt the need to treasure and protect these great buildings, so that they could continue their invaluable contribution to the nation’s life and wellbeing.
On January 26th, 2006 English Heritage allocated over £1 million of grants for repairs to 25 cathedrals around the country. Three cathedrals in the West Midlands will receive a total of £250,000: Hereford, Worcester and Coventry Cathedrals are to benefit from the award specifically for repairs and restoration.
This is the 16th round of grants since English Heritage’s Cathedral Grants scheme was launched in 1991. At that time a survey revealed that the nation’s 61 cathedrals were facing a mounting crisis of major repairs that they could not possibly fund alone. Since that time the Cathedral Grants scheme has contributed a grand total of £41.8 million towards the repair of some of England’s greatest buildings. Thereby ensuring that none of our cathedrals are at serious risk. English Heritage relies on memberships and the private sector support, as well as receiving funding from government and the lottery.
Tim Johnston, newly appointed Regional Director of English Heritage for the West Midlands, said: “Our cathedrals make an important economic and social contribution to the region. I am delighted that the West Midlands has been awarded such a large proportion of the available grant aid to secure these important buildings for generations to come. We are proud of English Heritage’s 16-year partnership with the region’s cathedrals which has ensured that, though in constant need of repair and maintenance, they are no longer at serious risk of ruin and decay.”
Johnston added: “In many ways, our parish churches and chapels are suffering from a similar back-log of repairs and maintenance as our cathedrals were in 1991. To tackle this, English Heritage is launching… its Inspired! …campaign in May 2006, to galvanise the country into action to secure a future for all our historic church buildings.”
The Dean of Hereford, the Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, said: “…Maintaining the cathedral is a huge and continuing challenge… Approval of this grant is a great relief. It means we can take…plans off the drawing board and put the work into practice. The cathedral means a great deal to local residents…”
Coventry Cathedral has also been awarded a grant of £100,000 and since 1991, the Cathedral has benefited from a total of £554,000 from English Heritage.
Worcester Cathedral has been awarded a grant of £50,000 towards the ongoing repair of the 12th century Chapter House. With at least one English Heritage grant per year since 1991, Worcester Cathedral is being restored, slowly but surely, to its former glory.
The mission of English Heritage is to work in partnership with government departments, local authorities, voluntary bodies and the private sector to:
1. Conserve and enhance the historic environment.
2. Broaden public access to heritage sites.
3. Increase people’s understanding of the past.
Speaking on the significance of Worcester Cathedral, The Very Revd Peter Marshall said: “Worcester Cathedral…plays a large part in the city’s life and it is the people who make the institution. Primarily the cathedral is a place of worship but that enables us to become involved in other things. For example, we are being asked to hold more special services for particular needs with organisations who wish to celebrate special events. While there has also been an increase in the numbers attending weekday services, it is our work with schools, their teachers and children that has developed in ways that we know to be most important and enjoyable, for which we need to find further resources. We have wonderful volunteers of all ages, some who give general help and others with …specialised skills. The people who look after the library and our ancient manuscripts or the volunteers who do the spectacular floral arrangements. The cathedral is engaged in both the city and the county as a whole and plays its part in improving the community generally.”
Highlights of the research report included:
1. Visitors attracted to an area by the presence of a cathedral spend £91 million in the local economy per year.
2. The 42 Anglican cathedrals account collectively for the direct employment of 1,885 full time workers. Through spending in the local economy they support up to 5,500 workers.
3. Cathedrals provide many opportunities for volunteers and benefit significantly from their time and skills. The survey suggests that the number of cathedral volunteers is in excess of 12,000.
4. Cathedrals spend around £25.9 million per year on salaries.
5. Cathedrals spend £11 million p.a. on repairs and maintenance, much of it raised from the public.
6. Cathedrals are open 365 days a year. They are open to all and have more contact with non-churchgoers than any other part of the Church.
7. More than 300,000 schoolchildren benefited from educational visits to cathedrals in 2003/04.
8. All but five of the smaller cathedrals have a designated education officer.
9. All cathedrals have, on average, three to five special events per week. More than half reported an increase in the number of events they hold.
10. An average of 23 services take place at cathedrals every week and there is an increasing number of requests for special services.
11. Three of England’s”top five” historic visitor attractions; York Minister, Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, are places of worship.
Cathedrals are first and foremost places of worship, and are well recognised as places of quietude and beauty. However, until recently little consideration has been given to the boost their presence gives to the local economy and to the range of opportunities they offer the community for education, events, tourism, reflection and volunteering. This research provided the first comprehensive evidence of the economic and social contribution made by cathedrals within their local communities and beyond.
The report concluded that there is a pressing need to further investigate these findings with more in-depth research on the economic and social impact of Anglican cathedrals in England. It also suggests that future research should focus on the characteristics of visitors to cathedrals; and on issues such as age and nationality, for which there is currently little information.
The study was carried out by ECOTEC Research and Consulting Limited. It was based primarily on a postal survey which was distributed to all 42 cathedrals (not including Westminster Abbey). The overall response rate was 90%.
The initial report has now been followed up with a second report released late in 2005, entitled Survey of Visits to Historic Attractions, it was conducted by MEW Research. This report goes into greater detail about visitor patterns, nationality, areas of visitation, kinds of visitors and much more. Both reports may be viewed and downloaded from the Heritage Counts website at: www.heritagecounts.co.uk.
In order to more fully understand the intricate relationship between the present and the past, sustainable communities and tourism, and to bring into balance present issues and to care for our history-rich past we are faced with many challenges. It also highlights the need for us to learn more about the role of these great buildings in the fabric of daily life.
For more information go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk
A full list of Cathedral Project grants for 2006/07 is available at: www.gnn.gov.uk
birmingham@gnn.gsi.gov.uk
www.heritagecounts.co.uk
