3.6.2 Visitors and Tourism

UNDERSTANDING THE PLACE TODAY

A Coventry Cathedral Events Team delivers an annual programme which includes, but is not limited to:

• Awards ceremonies for universities. • Evening and day-time concerts, both classical and rock. • Conferences in the nave and lecture hall. • Banquets and fashion shows in the nave. •

‘Britain in Bloom’ National Awards. • Dramatic performances in the ruined cathedral and new cathedral nave. • Summer celebrations in the ruins. • Meetings, workshops and lunches • Candlelit corporate receptions with musical accompaniment in the Cathedral nave.

Affiliated activities and groups Mothers’ Union The Cathedral has a branch of the Mothers’ Union that meets in the Lecture Hall on the first Thursday of each month at 10.30am. A Corporate Communion Service is held in the Lady Chapel on the second Thursday of each month at 10.15am.

St Clare’s St Clare’s is a small and friendly inclusive church community that offers a home to the spiritually seeking, to those who have wandered away from God, to those who never knew him and to those who have lost their faith in the church. St Clare’s is located between the ruined and new cathedrals. Friends of Coventry Cathedral The Friends of Coventry Cathedral is a registered charity with its own constitution independent of the Cathedral, but working closely alongside it. Friends’ membership subscriptions and fundraising campaigns provide support for the Cathedral’s upkeep and activities.

Coventry Cathedral Chorus Coventry Cathedral Chorus, formerly Saint Michael’s Singers, was formed in 1963 shortly after the consecration of the new cathedral and is regarded as one of the UK’s leading choral societies. The choir has a membership of around 90 auditioned singers from all ages and walks of life and promotes its own season of concerts at the Cathedral. The choir broadcasts on both radio and television.

Community of the Cross of Nails The Community of the Cross of Nails is a worldwide network of over 200 churches, charities, peace-building centres, and educational and training organisations, inspired by the Coventry story of destruction, rebuilding and renewal. It has members in 45 countries across all continents. Members support one another, pray for one another and share with one another. All members adhere to the three guiding principles of the Community of the Cross of Nails:

• Healing the wounds of history. • Learning to live with difference and celebrate diversity. • Building a culture of peace.

The Community is guided by the words ‘Father Forgive’ and prays the Litany of Reconciliation on a regular basis. 3.6.2 VISITORS AND TOURISM Coventry Cathedral is open to visitors throughout the year, apart from Christmas Day. Its opening times are Monday to Saturday, 10:00–17:00 and 12:00–17:00 on Sundays. The ruins are open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. The Cathedral does not charge an entrance fee to any part of the Precinct.

The number of visitors to the Cathedral is approximately:

• Sunday services: 150 per week. • School pupils (2018): 16,000 per annum. • General visitors (2018; clicked-in at the desk): 35,000 per annum. • Event attendees, including graduations (2018): 85,000 per annum. • Visitors to the ruins (2018; electronically recorded): 270,000 per annum.

The Cathedral also runs tower tours, which attract approximately 10,000 visitors per annum.

Visitor figures compiled by Coventry Council for 2015 outline that only 623,000 overnight trips were made to the city, and that less than 5% of Coventry’s jobs are in the tourist trade. Coventry City of Culture (and the European city of sport in 2019) is likely to raise the profile of the city and attract considerably more visitors.