Canterbury Cathedral launched a £50 million appeal last autumn. The mother church of the Anglican faith, attracts more than one million visitors a year. By any standards it is a big business. But just what is involved in keeping the doors open to worshippers and visitors throughout the year? John Meardon, who as Receiver General is the ‘chief executive’ of Canterbury Cathedral PLC, tells us the inside story.

Q. How many people work for the cathedral?

A The cathedral employs 250 staff supported by 600 volunteers.

The clergy, organist, precentor and virgers are responsible for the services and liturgical activities. Our skilled team of stonemasons and glass conservators are busy on our major conservation project.

The Visits team ensure that all our visitors enjoy a very special experience, whatever their reasons for visiting, and we are a major venue in Kent for concerts and exhibitions. We have a renowned archives department and library handling many historic documents and we manage all the properties of the Precincts, most of which are listed buildings, as well as the grounds and gardens. And then there are all the day-to-day operations such as finance, administration and even our own hotel and conference facility.

We are also particularly fortunate to benefit from the expertise of the volunteers.

Q. What is your role?

A The role of Receiver General is similar to the chief executive of a company. As a member of Chapter and the senior lay member of the Cathedral staff, I oversee both day-to-day operations and the longer-term planning and budgeting to ensure that we are coordinated in all the things we do, from the preservation of the historic buildings to the welcome we give to pilgrims and tourists from across the globe.

Q. Why is the cathedral so important?

A First and foremost the cathedral is a very active church and it maintains the continuity of worship first established by St Augustine when he introduced Christianity to the English in AD 597, here in Canterbury.

It is the episcopal seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and it also has had a very significant role in both our national and global heritage.

The cathedral is now the Mother Church to the worldwide Anglican Communion and the spiritual centre for many millions of Anglicans. In 1988 the cathedral was designated part of a World Heritage Site, one of only two British cathedrals so honoured. The cathedral is a work of art in its own right. It brings together architectural styles spanning the centuries and much of its magnificent stained glass dates back to the 12th century.

We are very fortunate to have all this on our doorstep in Kent and for many reasons the cathedral has been a focal point in the county for the past 900 years.

Q. Why do people have to pay to enter?

A It costs £12,000 each day to keep the cathedral running.

This includes lighting, heating, our skilled staff and all the day to day maintenance of such an historic site.

To help us met these costs we have reluctantly applied an entry charge for the last 12 years. Local people and members of the Canterbury Diocese are able to get in free and we have issued over 60,000 passes.

Q. Yes, but as the cathedral is so important, why can’t it be funded by the Government or the Church of England?

A The cathedral receives no Government or State funding and only occasional grants from English Heritage.

The Church Commissioners pay the salary of the Dean and two of the residentiary canons. But that’s it.

So we need to cover our costs.

Our income certainly doesn’t allow for the funding of the enormous conservation project that is now urgently needed here and is why we have had to launch a major appeal.

Q. The cathedral owns a number of properties in Canterbury. Why can’t you just put the rents up?

A We charge commercial rents which directly relate to the local scene and supply and demand and we have to keep in line with that. We cannot afford to price ourselves out of the market.

Q. As you say, last year, the cathedral launched a £50 million appeal. This is a huge amount of money. Why do you need so much?

A Every five years we carry out a major structural review. The last one made very clear that a combination of centuries of weathering, pollution and constant use had taken its toll on the building and there are some serious problems that must be urgently addressed.

Much of the stonework is either crumbling or covered in a harmful black crust, the roof is now leaking badly and needs re-leading and the stained glass needs major conservation work to protect it for the future.

The work on the fabric of the cathedral alone is likely to cost £30 million. The rest is needed to bring our visitor welcoming arrangements up to date and to improve the music facilities and our education programmes.

Q. How will you be raising the money?

A The fund-raising team has a number of initiatives on the go. Our initial appeal is to the people of Kent as we very much hope that they will want to support this local treasure and play an important part in ensuring its survival for our future generations.

Many local people agree that it would be a tragedy if parts of the cathedral had to close in future years. The appeal will move futher afield in due course.

Q. How can the people of Kent get involved?

A There are all sorts of ways. A very personal way is to sponsor one of the new stones to be laid in the cathedral or one of the lead tiles, engraved with your initials, that will be part of the new roof.

We’d welcome any fund-raising initiatives such as sponsored walks, fetes, concerts, boot fairs, car washes – but do get in touch first. Our team can provide advice and help in getting them set up; just pick up the phone or contact us via our website www.savecanterburycathedral.com.

Next month we will be at the Kent Show with some of our stonemasons so people can visit us to see some of the fantastic skills that are needed to restore the Cathedral. And of course the gift of time is invaluable – volunteers are always welcome no matter how little or much time you can spare.

Q. And finally, what do you enjoy most about your job?

A It is an enormous privilege to work here, surrounded by so much from the past but very much in the present with the tremendous number of people who come to see the cathedral.

I see myself and the staff as stewards, tasked to maintain the worshipping traditions and to look after the magnificent buildings so they can be handed on to future generations. I look out of my office window and watch people from all over the world absorbing the wonders of the cathedral.

It is extraordinary to think that, 1,400 years after its foundation, Canterbury Cathedral is still carrying out its original purpose as a living, working building and it retains an unique ability to touch everyone who visits it.

For more information on the Save Canterbury Cathedral, contact Karen Gambrell in the fund-raising team on 01227 865344 or visit the website at www.savecanterburycatedral.com