{"id":31121,"date":"2021-09-10T16:42:12","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T15:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=31121"},"modified":"2021-09-10T16:42:12","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T15:42:12","slug":"new-research-reveals-cathedrals-contribution-to-local-economies-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=31121","title":{"rendered":"New research reveals cathedrals\u2019 contribution to local economies & communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WorcesterA new report for The Association of English Cathedrals has highlighted the importance of Cathedrals as standing \u2018at the heart of communities and regions\u2019, and reveals the considerable contribution of cathedrals to their local economies and communities.<\/h3>\n

image: for illustration purposes only Worcester Cathedral by Steven McLeish<\/em><\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

\u2026 In 2019, England\u2019s 42 Anglican cathedrals contributed \u00a3235m to their local economies\u2026.provided 6,065 jobs and volunteering posts for 15,400 people \u2026.<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

The Association of English Cathedrals writes:<\/p>\n

Fresh evidence lays bare the hugely positive economic and social impact England\u2019s cathedrals have on the cities and communities they serve\u00a0and the effect the pandemic has had on their contribution.<\/p>\n

In 2019, England\u2019s 42 Anglican cathedrals contributed \u00a3235m to their local economies. They provided 6,065 jobs full time equivalent jobs and volunteering posts for 15,400 people who gave 906,000 hours of their time. They welcomed more than 14.6 million visits, 308,000 by schoolchildren for educational events, and 9.5m from tourists….<\/p>\n

In the same year, cathedrals hosted a rich programme of arts, music, heritage and culture \u2013 amounting to 9,580 events\u00a0equivalent to two every three days \u2013 as well as providing the venues for film shoots such as The Crown, Doctor Who and Avengers:Endgame.<\/p>\n

They played a huge role socially, responding to local need by running foodbanks, support groups for the more vulnerable, the unemployed, the homeless, outreach activities in schools, residential homes and hospitals, lunch clubs, parent and toddler groups, and community cafes.\u00a0\u00a0And over two thirds of cathedrals are part of the A programme, helping the Church of England achieve its carbon reduction targets by 2030.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Economic and Social Impact of Cathedrals in England\u00a0<\/em>was produced by independent research consultancy,\u00a0Ecorys<\/em><\/a>, for The Association of English Cathedrals\u00a0to show how cathedrals use their assets to promote mission and well-being. This latest research builds on previous studies of 2004 and 2014 and continues to prove that cathedrals successfully provide a multitude of community focussed services alongside worship. It enables cathedrals to demonstrate their social and economic impact as good stewards of their buildings, their history, their musical and spiritual inheritance, and, as good servants of their communities,\u00a0to the wider church, local and national government, and other stakeholders.<\/p>\n

Ecorys\u00a0<\/em>used surveys, and conducted interviews at six case study cathedrals to collect data relating to 2019, and also asked cathedrals to assess the impact of the pandemic in 2020….<\/p>\n

Evidence collected on the impact of COVID-19 \u2013 which saw Government mandated closures and restrictions on gatherings \u2013 reveals visitor numbers slumped by 75 per cent compared to 2019, visitor spend was down proportionately, and over 70 per cent of cathedral staff were furloughed.<\/p>\n

The research continues, stating that the fall in visitor numbers has had a significant effect on cathedrals\u2019 income levels, particularly those cathedrals more dependent on the visitor economy.<\/p>\n

It also found a significant fall in cathedrals\u2019 average non-visitor income, driven by a reduction of almost 80% in income generated from the use of cathedral facilities. Closure and restrictions on congregation size also meant fewer people attended services in the cathedral, down from a midweek average of 362 adults and 108 children in 2019, to 84 and 25 respectively in 2020, leading, inevitably, to a drop in congregational giving.<\/p>\n

But the research also found that COVID-19 had given rise to new pastoral and creative opportunities. While 75 percent of cathedrals\u2019 existing social projects stopped due to closures and restrictions, new services like food deliveries, shopping and online face to face pastoral support developed.<\/p>\n

Worship services moved online with cathedrals providing on average two Sunday services and six midweek services, and digital technologies enabled cathedrals to reach more people with creative\u00a0online initiatives such as prayer walls, candle lighting, tours, pilgrim trails, and some, like Salisbury Cathedral, took\u00a0a major art exhibition online.<\/p>\n

In Durham, a new community of worshippers, the Community of Prayer, was born out of the growing online community of worshippers that formed around its live-streamed Daily Offices and Sunday Eucharists which started in the first lockdown.<\/p>\n

Blackburn, Chester, Lichfield, Rochester, Salisbury and Worcester Cathedrals<\/a>\u00a0gave over their buildings to be used as\u00a0vaccination\u00a0or asymptomatic test centres, putting them at the forefront of the fight to contain the pandemic.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By the end of 2020 around a third of cathedrals were offering or developing online resources specifically for schools, online tours, talks and activity packs.<\/p>\n

Rochester Cathedral, like many other cathedrals, reported that while COVID-19 had put a stop to much of the positive momentum of their events programming, it had also opened up new opportunities. They integrated technology, live streamed services, and worked with high street traders to develop a COVID-safe QR code trail to tell the Christmas story during December 2020.<\/p>\n

And despite the disruptions of COVID-19, interviewees reported that during the lockdowns Rochester Cathedral was seen as a place of mental wellbeing, not just spiritual wellbeing….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gloucester Cathedral announced its\u00a0Beacon of Hope<\/em><\/a>\u00a0project organising a wide range of art and well-being events and partnership projects as it pledged to be at the heart of its community throughout the pandemic and in recovery.<\/p>\n

Liverpool Cathedral\u2019s Peace Doves art exhibition attracted over 60,000 visitors in the first month of opening in May 2021, bringing an estimated \u00a31.4 million to the local economy.<\/p>\n

More recently, The\u00a0Natural History Museum\u2019s Dippy on Tour exhibition<\/a>, which opened in Norwich Cathedral in July, saw 43,000 visitors in its first month.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The\u00a0Ecorys<\/em>\u00a0research\u00a0also showed that cathedrals benefitted from new coronavirus-related grant programmes from the government, Church Commissioners and independent trusts.\u00a0\u00a0This included receiving at least 96\u00a0Culture Recovery Fund<\/a>\u00a0and Historic England grants in 2020, totalling \u00a327.8m, enabling urgent repairs to allow cathedrals to open safely,\u00a0and safeguarding their core activities \u2013 \u00a35m of which went to the 10 per cent most deprived areas in England.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, the study found clear evidence that cathedrals make a significant contribution to their local economies and have a positive impact on their local communities, consistent with the findings in 2014 and 2004.<\/p>\n

It also concluded that the pandemic,\u00a0while bringing fresh creative opportunities, has brought about a number of challenges, particularly in the form of reduced visitor numbers, which has had a significant effect on cathedrals\u2019 income levels and a direct impact on cathedrals\u2019 ability to be self-sustaining in 2020. Cathedrals estimate their finances will be constrained for some time to come while national and local economies recover.<\/p>\n

It recommends further research into how cathedrals are being affected by COVID-19, including any knock-on impact on cathedrals\u2019 ability to continue offering pre-COVID levels of support to their local communities.<\/p>\n

The Very Revd Adrian Dorber, chair of the Association of English Cathedrals, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cCathedrals stand at the heart of their communities and regions \u2013 places of faith and worship, welcome and service, wonder and education. By our welcoming and inclusive ethos, millions are drawn to our cathedrals every year. It is touching to receive so much public attention and endorsement. We have, though, been badly affected by the pandemic; the data proves that very clearly. But we\u2019ve risen to new challenges. We\u2019ve gone digital, streamed our services, and reached out to provide practical and spiritual care to be beacons of hope in tough times.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis study gives the evidence of our impact as sacred spaces and places of compassion, community and solace.\u00a0\u00a0England\u2019s cathedrals are resources for our local communities and the nation,\u201d\u00a0he added.<\/p>\n

Read more and download the full report….<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new report for The Association of English Cathedrals has highlighted the importance of Cathedrals as standing \u2018at the heart of communities and regions\u2019, and reveals the considerable contribution of cathedrals to their local economies and communities. image: for illustration … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sector-newsblog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31121"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31121\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31122,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31121\/revisions\/31122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}