SERVICES at English cathedrals clocked up an additional five per cent attendance in 2023, although they’ve yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, statistics published on Thursday suggest.
The total weekly attendance at regular services at cathedrals in England rose from a median of 28,300 in 2022 to 30,300 in 2023. Despite this increase, the typical was still significantly below the 2019 figure of 36,800.
By contrast, visitor numbers have largely recovered. A complete of 9.35 million visited in 2023, near the 2017 total of 9.38 million. The 2023 figure amounts to a rise of 1.4 million from 2022, although the rise in those paying or making a donation amounted to simply 45,000.
Statistics for Westminster Abbey were also collected, but not included in the general figures, because it is a Royal Peculiar reasonably than a cathedral. Alone, it recorded 1.36 million visitors in 2023, 90,000 higher than in 2019.
In a foreword to the report, the Church of England’s senior statistician, Dr Ken Eames, has thanked vergers, chief operating officers, and the deans of English cathedrals for providing the information.
“Cathedrals matter. They are places of worship and welcome; of history and education; of joyous exuberance and quiet reflection,” Dr Eames writes.
All 42 English cathedrals and Westminster Abbey were asked about attendance on Sunday and for midweek services, Easter and Christmas, special services (each public and by invitation), baptisms, marriages and funerals.
Data on visitors, musical activities, and volunteering were also gathered.
Some cathedrals have already reported that attendance at Christmas services last 12 months exceeded pre-pandemic levels (News, 26 January).
The latest statistics show that, overall, Christmas attendance in 2023 was barely higher than it had been a decade before — 124,500 in 2023 in comparison with 124,300 in 2013 — but was still below the 2019 figure of 132,300.
Attendance at graduation events was higher in 2023 than it had been before the pandemic, with a complete of 357,000 attending ceremonies, although this was a drop of just about 80,000 from 2022.
The variety of volunteers at cathedrals grew in 2023, from 12,500 the previous 12 months to 13,300. In 2019, the figure stood at 15,700.
