St Giles’ Cathedral introduces fee for visitors outside Scotland

According to the St Giles’ Cathedral charity trust, the site’s annual operational costs are more than £1m.

The charity, which manages the cathedral, said it did not receive regular funding from the Scottish government or local council and had decided to introduce the entry charge to ensure the site can continue its long-term operation as a visitor attraction, religious site and cultural centre.

Alongside providing funding for the day-to-day operation of the building and its religious services, the entrance charge will allow the charity to expand its cultural offerings, according to Jack Oades the cathedral’s organist and head of music, said.

Oades said the additional funding “will allow us to significantly level-up our musical offering and our in-house concerts and events”.

“This will not only allow us to improve the frequency of our choral worship, but to attract world-class performers and engage with the wider creative and cultural activities across Edinburgh and Scotland,” he added.

The Reverend Dr Scott Rennie, who took over as the minister of St Giles in May, said: “As Scotland’s High Kirk we want to offer visitors from home and abroad the best possible experience and the opportunity to understand how faith and history have shaped Scotland’s life as a nation.

“I am confident that these changes will be transformational in incorporating the life and cares of Scottish people into our cycle of worship through the year.”