Rector’s Reflections
Wednesday 25th September 2024
The Role of Cathedrals in the Modern World
Over the last few days, I have shared some reflections on the contribution which cathedrals make to the musical, educational and parochial life of our country. Many cathedrals also operate as significant commercial businesses, and I wish to share some reflections on this subject in today’s reflections.
There are many possible ways for a cathedral to make money. Most cathedrals have a shop, and many also have a café or restaurant. Several cathedrals have moved with the times, and provide opportunities to buy through a website as well as in person. Many if not most cathedrals would be open to the possibility of hiring out their facilities for non-church events, and as film locations. And at least one cathedral, Canterbury cathedral, operates a hotel and conference centre. These are only some of the ways in which cathedrals seek to make money.
And then there is the whole question of charging entrance fees. Cathedrals vary on this. Some cathedrals make hardly any request for payment, beyond having a collection box or card reader by the door and inviting contributions. Other cathedrals make it hard, but not impossible, to visit the cathedral without paying the relevant entrance fee. Visitors have to go through a turnstile, or go past an official welcome desk. Some cathedrals divide up their church into two zones: part of the church, for example the nave, is open to everyone without a fee, while access to the rest is dependent on purchasing a ticket. From memory, I believe Westminster Abbey operates this system.
And there are those cathedrals which seem to make it virtually impossible to visit without buying a ticket, unless you are attending a service of public worship. Examples of such cathedrals would be York Minster, Canterbury Cathedral, and our own cathedral in Oxford. Indeed, Canterbury Cathedral has gone one further, and decided to charge for entry to the cathedral close as well.
Why is there is such a variety of practice when it comes to charging entrance fees? I think in large part it reflects the context in which the cathedral is placed. A world famous cathedral such as York Minster or Canterbury Cathedral will attract tens of thousands of tourists every year, who will be used to paying an entrance fee to visit a tourist attraction. Tourists pay to visit palaces and museums so why should n’t they pay to visit the ecclesiastical equivalent? Of course, this assumes that a cathedral is simply the “ecclesiastical equivalent” of a museum or palace. But is this necessarily the case? Are cathedrals different in kind from any other heritage asset? And who should make this decision?
It also assumes that it is acceptable for an ecclesiastical organisation to be running a significant commercial operation. Businesses are usually dominated by the bottom-line: the prime aim of the business is to make a profit. Churches are different: their prime aim is to worship God and share the life of His Risen Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Is it possible for a cathedral to be run as a successful commercial operation at the same time as providing a place of worship and encounter with God? Yes, it is possible, but it is not easy. Take, for example, the merchandise on offer in a cathedral shop. The Oxford Cathedral shop limits its stock to what it knows it can sell. Many visitors are interested in Harry Potter, so the shop sells Harry Potter merchandise. Is this appropriate? A previous Dean was challenged about this. Apparently he re-assured the questioner by pointing out that the Harry Potter wands didn’t work! This is one of those clever and witty answers which have been part of the Oxford tradition since the Middle Ages. And, like many such answers, it neatly avoids engaging with the issues which are really at stake.
The fundamental question is this: is it right to turn a cathedral into significant commercial operation? What do you think? Jesus founded a Church, not a business. On the other hand, the profits produced by a business can help to pay for church running costs, and a business can also be a form of Christian outreach in itself, for example through promoting Fair Trade and exemplary working practices.
What do you think: are our cathedrals too business-like, or are they not business like enough? Discuss!