As a Cathedral at the heart of our community and diocese, we are seeking to tackle the important issues;
- to allow space for healthy debate
- to be good stewards of this earth
- to be a voice for the vulnerable and marginalised
- to be a place of action that makes real and important changes towards a better future.
ECO Cathedral
As a Cathedral community, we are committed to caring for God’s Creation; we are a Partner in Action with A Rocha UK.
The Anglican Communion’s fifth Mark of Mission is
“to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”
We have adopted an ethical and sustainable framework to guide our policies and practices. In-line with the Eco Church framework, we divide our activity under the following areas: Worship & Teaching, Buildings, Land, Community & Global Engagement, and Lifestyle.
Healthy Healing Hub
“The ministry of healing and wholeness is at the centre of our life as a Cathedral. We are committed to the Cathedral itself being a place of healing, offering visitors opportunities to pray and to experience hope and peace during difficult times."
In partnership with The Guild of Health and St. Raphael, we have become a Healthy Healing Hub, offering support for health and wellbeing to the local community and empowering other organisations within the Diocese to do the same.
Central to our focus for 2022 and beyond, this partnership will put the needs of the community and diocese in prime position, seeking to ‘recover together’ following the traumatic circumstances of the last few years.
"Silence and beauty combine to nurture the soul."
As a Gold-Tier Healthy Healing Hub we seek to serve as a centre of excellence and training.
FairTrade Church
We are a FairTrade Church, committed to using fairly traded products and promoting fair trade. Find out more about Fair Trade: www.fairtrade.org.uk
Latest News
Helping Young People Find Hope
For the last year Lichfield Cathedral has been instrumental in helping almost 30 young unemployed
people find valuable work placements across a number of job roles in the region, with still a few more
placements to come.
Taking part in the government’s Kickstart initiative, Lichfield Cathedral set itself up as an employment
hub to make available 46 new 6-month job placements for 16-24 year olds in the region. Roles have
been created within the Cathedral itself and with partner organisations such as churches in the
Lichfield Diocese. They have ranged from grounds maintenance to children’s workers and marketing
assistants – all providing valuable work experience from one of the age groups hardest hit by the
pandemic.
Simon Warburton, Executive Director of Lichfield Cathedral explains: “As the situation with the
pandemic worsened in 2020 it became apparent that young people would be some of the hardest hit
by these turbulent times. We discussed how we might give them hope for their futures, and that’s
when the government’s Kickstart scheme was announced. We are so proud as a Cathedral to have
been able to help out these young people and are delighted to hear their stories of the difference it
has made.”
Ben Butterfield, Kickstart Project Manager, who was employed to implement the programme for
Lichfield Cathedral talks about what a privilege it’s been for him to be involved: “On a personal level,
I’m delighted that Lichfield Cathedral has stuck their neck out for a demographic that is easily
overlooked. For many young people who were seeking employment, we’ve had the opportunity to
offer them real employment, helpful experience and new challenges in a supportive environment.
Some of these young people have already gone on to permanent employment elsewhere, and we are
delighted for them.”
However, the best spokespeople for the scheme are the young people who have found work and
direction thanks to it. Here are just a few testimonials:
Gabriella: “In 2019, I began the year homeless. All the stress and bad environment caused me to end
up in hospital, which meant I missed my exams. Finding work was difficult to say the least, but I
landed in work as a care assistant for the elderly. This was a very stressful career and upon reflection, I
realized that I wanted to work with children. Kickstart has made this possible. I am now children and
youth assistant for St Matthews church. Thanks to the scheme, my future is now full of hope. Thank
you, Kickstart and the Lichfield Cathedral, for giving me the chance to become who I want to be.”
Leila: “In June 2021, I finished my degree at the University of Derby. During my time there I decided
that I wanted to go into marketing. I began looking for opportunities that would give me some
experience in this area and that was when I came across Lichfield Cathedrals Kickstart opportunities.
These 6-month placements offer those who are 16 – 24 the chance to gain valuable experience, and in July I was offered the position of Marketing Assistant. During my time here I have helped promote
some amazing events including The Great Exhibition and The Cathedral Illuminated, planned the day-to-
day social media content and was able to complete two marketing courses in social media and
copywriting. This has given me the experience I needed and more for a future career in marketing.”
Nicole: “In July 2021 I begin working at Lichfield Cathedral as their ‘Tours and Box Office Assistant’. I
had limited experience of the working world as I was a recent History and Politics graduate from the University of Liverpool who had been training to become a History teacher. It is my first time out of
education and working at Lichfield Cathedral is the best transitional experience into the workforce
that I could have hoped for. Although working in an office was never somewhere that I saw myself
working in it has turned out to be an invaluable experience that I might otherwise have overlooked if
it was not for their Kickstarter scheme.”