Members of the Church of England fear that the rising fees will discourage the less fortunate from attending and that worship services may only be available to those who can afford it. The response of the Association of English Cathedrals is that those who charge a fee do guarantee free access to private prayer and to people who are attending services. Many of the cathedrals also offer free entry to locals who live nearby. However, the costs of maintenance, electricity and gas have risen significantly and the churches are facing unprecedented pressures.  Almost 300 churches have closed in the past five years. They are also tackling declining congregation numbers. 

Other cathedrals that charge for entry are: Salisbury – £9, St Paul’s – £25, Ely – £14, Lincoln – £11, York Minister – £18, Winchester – £12.50, Canterbury – £17 and Exeter. The latter, Exeter Cathedral is the cheapest at £7.50, offering free entry to young people under 18 years-old.

Most cathedrals do not charge admission fees, they just welcome donations from the public.

A few Western-European countries raise funding for their churches via a national church tax. That is not the case in England, where each cathedral is responsible for its own finances. In addition to admission fees, they raise money through congregational donations, legacies, trading activities and investments and grants from the Church Commissioners. The British Government also runs a Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which pays towards repairs and approved alterations to the cathedral building.