09/09/2024
A programme of public engagement that began with a mini golf course in a Cathedral has led to an increase in visitor numbers and a rise in worshippers at its Sunday Eucharist.
Rochester Cathedral’s mini golf programme over August 2019 led to an 84% increase in visitors that month compared to a year before from 16,833 to 31,053, followed by a 16% rise in attendance at Advent and Christmas services that year.
Simon Lace, Rochester Cathedral Chief Operating Officer, said the Cathedral stopped at noon each day during the Adventure golf programme to say the Lord’s Prayer.
“It was universally observed, and it was very impressive. We saw grandparents stopping to teach their children the Lord’s Prayer. It gave the Cathedral Chapter confidence to do more similar outreach work,” he said.
Since then, with a pause during the Covid pandemic, the Cathedral has hosted a number of public events including Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon and the Luxmuralis light show.
Straw polls conducted by himself and volunteers with people queuing to come into events have shown up to a half of those responding had never visited the Cathedral before.
“We have found that we now have a more diverse and younger congregation at the Sunday Eucharist and more families coming with attendance now above pre pandemic levels.
"We are hearing anecdotally that by visiting the public events, people discover that the Cathedral is friendly and approachable and they feel more at ease about coming in.”
The Cathedral received a grant from the Cathedrals Sustainability Fund (CSF), to fund the post of events manager, a key role in developing its programme of public events.