Worcester Cathedral has this week revealed not only a record Christmas 2024, but also a 10% increase in visitor numbers for the year overall.
In 2024 more than 250,000 people, made up of 169,000 adult and 25,000 child visitors, came to the Cathedral to visit, on school trips etc. with 56,000 attending worship, - an increase of 10% on 2023, with the period January to November 2024 seeing a 17% upturn! Further to this, more than 22,000 people attended events at the Cathedral, from concerts to graduations, silent discos, and more.
Donations to the Cathedral, which is a registered charity and receives no regular government funding, were up by 4% compared with 2023. Welcome news since it costs over £8,000 a day to open the doors to Worcester Cathedral, so increasing donations is key to ensuring the future of the 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 6 January.
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 1 – 25 December, 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.
This year’s Christmas Fayre in the Cloister welcomed 12,868 visitors, a 20% increase on 2023’s event. A Christmas Appeal was launched in November, aimed at helping to support the historic Cathedral’s Christmas of Peace and Joy for all.
More than 500 people wrote a tag to hang on the community Christmas tree, which is kindly donated by St Peter’s Garden Centre each year, with messages including: “If you are reading this, Merry Christmas. I hope you have an amazing festive season;” “Let’s give each other a gift of love and friendship and practical support this Christmastime” and “I hope that whatever your situation you will experience the joy of Christmas.”
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.” The Appeal reached over 4,000 people and has so far raised a fantastic £16,500.
And there is still time to donate if you haven’t yet, until the end of January by calling Cathy on 01905 732912 to make a donation over the phone, emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on the Cathedral website.
