WORCESTER Cathedral has revealed record visitor numbers for 2024.
It not only had a record Christmas, but also a ten per cent increase in visitor numbers for the year overall.
In 2024 more than 250,000 people, made up of 169,000 adults and 25,000 children, came to the cathedral to visit, with 56,000 attending worship.
Further to this, more than 22,000 people attended events at the cathedral, from concerts and graduations to silent discos.
Donations to the cathedral, which is a registered charity and receives no regular government funding, were up by four per cent compared with 2023 – welcome news as it costs over £8,000 a day to open the doors to Worcester Cathedral.
More than 24,066 people visited the cathedral in the week leading up to Christmas Day, a total of 29 choral carols were sung and 64 Christmas carols, with a staggering 253 verses echoing around the historic building. And an incredible 30,000 candles were lit from the start of the Victorian Fayre to January 6.
The cathedral hosted a packed programme of services, with 2,973 people attending Christmas Eve services alone.
A total of 17,335 people attended services from December 1 to December 25, an increase of nearly 1,000 on 2023.
The Christmas Tree Festival had more than 61,744 visitors, surpassing last year’s total of 60,577 (despite the festival running for an extra week last year).
This year saw more trees than ever, with 154 local schools, charities, businesses and organisations taking part.
A Christmas Appeal was launched in November, aimed at helping to support the historic cathedral’s Christmas of Peace and Joy for all.
The appeal reached over 4,000 people and has so far raised £16,500.
The dean of Worcester, The Very Revd Dr Stephen Edwards, said: “We were delighted to welcome so many visitors to the cathedral to help celebrate our Christmas of Peace and Joy for all.
“The cathedral is always a special, moving place – but perhaps never more so than at Christmastime. I love that each year we welcome back visitors to whom the cathedral is always an integral part of their Christmas, but also welcome many people who have never visited before, and all are welcomed equally as friends to experience the sacred wonder of this amazing house of God at this special time of year.
“Huge thanks to everyone who has donated to our Christmas appeal. We have raised a fantastic amount and really do appreciate every single donation; we really couldn’t do it without you.”
To donate to the appeal visit www.worcestercathedral.org.uk/christmas24
