Cathedral statistics show continued recovery in 2023
from The Church of England:
Coronation celebrations, cultural initiatives, and sustainability efforts highlight year of positive change.
The Church of England’s latest cathedral attendance statistics reveal continued recovery in 2023, with a five per cent increase in weekly service attendance. Attendance at Christmas services was up 20% year on year and the rise was also reflected in easter services, where attendance was up by 10%.
Cathedrals also experienced a resurgence in visitor numbers, with 9.35 million people visiting in 2023, a 17 per cent increase from 2022. This marks a significant recovery, although overall numbers remain slightly below pre-pandemic levels.
The year was marked by celebrations of King Charles III’s coronation, with cathedrals hosting special services and community events. In addition to worship and national events, cathedrals made notable strides in cultural and sustainability efforts, with exhibitions, civic events and significant energy-saving initiatives and biodiversity projects across the country.
The report, released today, shows a weekly total of 30,300 individuals attended cathedral services each week, reflecting a continued return to in-person worship.
Special services in cathedrals, including those during Easter and Christmas, saw particularly strong attendance. Easter services in 2023 attracted 45,000 attendees, a 10 per cent increase from 2022. Christmas services were even more popular, with 124,500 attendees, marking a 20 per cent rise from the previous year.
Cathedrals continue to play a crucial role in public life, hosting 5,000 public and civic events in 2023, with an impressive total attendance of 1.59 million. This includes 430 graduation ceremonies and numerous other significant cultural and civic gatherings.
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