Why Donations and Events Help Protect Lichfield Cathedral for the Future

At a Glance

(A short summary for those wishing to get the essentials)

Lichfield Cathedral is a self‑financing charity with no government funding for operations.

Only 3% of annual costs come from the Church Commissioners.
The Cathedral raises the remaining funds through donations, events, and commercial income.
Major repairs cost millions, and although we’ve raised £7m in recent years, essential work still lies ahead.
Concerts and events bring in vital income and introduce new people to the Cathedral.
Without asking for donations, the average visitor gift drops to below 50p. With an ask, it rises to over £2.
Everything from safeguarding to pastoral support is funded through your generosity.
While we may sometimes need to ask for your help, we will always be Your Cathedral.

Full Article

Estimated reading time: 6–7 minutes

By Simon Warburton, Chief Operating Officer

Every now and then, a wave of comments appears on our social media channels that tells me it’s time to sit down and explain, as openly as I can, why Cathedrals operate the way they do. Some of the questions are absolutely fair. Some come from misunderstandings. And a few come from a place of frustration or disappointment - which I do genuinely hear.

So, I thought I’d offer Lichfield Cathedral’s perspective. I can’t speak for every Cathedral, of course, but I suspect many of them would nod along to what follows.

Cathedrals Carry Many Roles at Once

If you were to sit in the Close for half an hour and watch who walks through our doors, you’d see something quite special. Cathedrals are churches, sanctuaries, heritage venues, community spaces, concert halls, places of pilgrimage, galleries, classrooms, and, for many, places of comfort in difficult moments.

This mix of roles is one of the things I love most about the Cathedral. It’s also one of the things that people sometimes struggle with. I understand why someone might ask:

“How can a sacred place also host an amplified concert?”
“Why is a church asking for a donation at the door?”
“Surely the Church of England must have deep pockets — doesn’t it fund all this?”

These questions aren’t unreasonable. But the reality behind them is often very different from what people assume.

How Cathedrals Like Ours Are Actually Funded

The very short version is this: we fund ourselves.

English Cathedrals receive no operational money from the government. The Church Commissioners provide a contribution, and it is genuinely welcomed - but it covers around 3% of our annual costs. The Diocese does not fund us through parish share.

The rest, the overwhelming majority, must be raised by us, every year, through donations, events, grants, fundraising campaigns, trading, and partnerships.

People are often surprised to hear that even major repairs to the building cannot be funded by the Church Commissioners. These projects, which often run into the millions, have to be delivered entirely from what we can raise locally.

And while Lichfield does own property, there are restrictions on how these assets can be used. They can’t simply be sold to cover costs.

The Fragility Beneath the Beauty

Behind the scenes, we carry a long and growing list of legal requirements: safeguarding, health and safety, governance, and at the core of what we as a cathedral to hold daily worship. We are the custodians of a nationally important building that must be monitored, repaired, and kept safe for the thousands of people who step inside each week.

None of this work happens by accident. It takes a committed team of staff and more than 350 volunteers, all supported through the funds we raise.

What We’ve Managed Together, And What Still Lies Ahead

Over the last decade, we’ve been incredibly fortunate to raise £7 million for essential restoration projects. Because of this generosity, we’ve been able to:

secure the Chapter House roof,
repair the South Nave Buttresses,
update the electrics and lighting,
and complete a once‑in‑a‑generation repair of the central spire.

But we cannot rest on these achievements. The North Nave Buttress still needs significant work. The Cathedral organ (of national importance) requires major restoration. The sound system needs upgrading. The Nave Altar Platform needs repair.

And these projects, too, run into the millions.

The Community Side You Don’t Always See

Alongside the bricks and mortar sits the heart of the Cathedral’s mission - the human side. Every day, people come to us who need help, someone to talk to, a place to feel safe, or simply the chance to sit quietly.

We support vulnerable people, offer free craft sessions and social opportunities, walk with families through life’s defining moments, and provide pastoral care and Christian counselling. Our chorister bursaries help children access an exceptional musical and educational experience.

None of this is covered by central funding. All of it relies on the income we generate.

So, Why Do We Ask for Donations?

Quite simply, because without asking, we cannot sustain our mission or remain free to enter.

We welcome around 250,000 visitors a year, including about 150,000 day visitors. By contrast, some of the Cathedrals that charge for entry receive between half a million and a million visitors annually.

Here is what we’ve learned through experience:

If we don’t ask for a donation, the average gift drops to below 50p per person.
If we do ask, the average rises to over £2.
Only about one‑third of visitors donate at all.

That means roughly 100,000 people each year enjoy the Cathedral without contributing financially. We are glad they come, truly, but the reality is that £2 per visitor is what allows us to stay open, lit, heated, staffed, safe, and free.

Most people spend more on a coffee than on supporting a building that has stood at the heart of the city for more than 1,300 years. Yet asking remains essential.

And, Why Do We Host Concerts?

Concerts were not always part of our world, but over recent years they have become a lifeline - not just financially, but in terms of engagement. They bring people through our doors who might never otherwise step inside.

We don’t take this lightly. Every concert is reviewed, and sometimes adjusted, to make sure it is appropriate for the space. We listen carefully to those who find busy events disruptive, and we balance our programme with the quiet times that are so important to many.

But the simple truth is: these concerts help keep the Cathedral open, and they contribute positively to Lichfield’s evening economy - supporting local hotels, restaurants, and businesses.

We are grateful for the production companies and for every person who chooses to attend.

I am not naïve enough to think this blog will change the minds of our strongest critics. Some people will always feel differently about concerts, donations, or how Cathedrals should be run.

But I hope it helps explain why we make the decisions we do, and how carefully, and often how painfully, we wrestle with them.

What I do know is this: our staff, clergy, and volunteers give their absolute best. We remain rooted in the spiritual life of this city. And while we may sometimes need to ask for your help, we will always be Your Cathedral.