Cathedrals finding creative ways to stay financally afloat

For Bristol Cathedral, Silvey said while the budget deficit had fallen from £300,000 in 2024 to £120,000 in 2025, it was still projected to have a shortfall of £55,000 next year.

“We’re moving in the right direction but we can only run a deficit for as long as we’ve got cash to cover it,” he said.

“Our cash reserves will run out at some point if we carry on like this,” he added.

Silvey said the cathedral had taken measures to try and recoup some of the money, including reducing staff.

“We’ve lost good people in that process,” he said.

He said the cathedral had also shifted emphasis towards finding new income streams, hiring specialist events and venue hire manager Nat Gearing and putting on “a huge array of events”.

Gearing said balancing the opportunity of using the cathedral as a commercial venue with its primary role as place of worship and celebration had meant they “often have to push boundaries a little bit and challenge perceptions”.

“Cathedrals have for hundreds of years have been places not just for worship but for celebration. These are just updated ways of celebrating,” she said.

Gearing said the events had helped to bring in a whole new group of people who have possibly never visited Bristol Cathedral before.