Inappropriate use for our cathedral

“Hello, i wanted to come on as the event organiser to add some comments.

We're in our third year of holding the event at the Cathedral now, we were approached by the Cathedral themselves to bring the event in to encourage new visitors to the Cathedral and it certainly has. For us it's one of our most positive and enjoyable events that we hold and we hold it 4 times a year so it has very little impact on the regular services offered at the Cathedral.

The people that come along (an average of 1200 per event) are of all ages and backgrounds and it's rewarding for us to have so many people come and enjoy what we do whilst in this beautiful historic building. The positive feedback we get from both regular Cathedral visitors and people new to the building is overwhelming after each event. Many love to see the Cathedral so vibrant and full of life.

We are very respectful to the surroundings and i can assure you we have never knowingly charged anyone to come in and pray. All of our staff are fully instructed if someone says they have come to pray. Chapels at the rear of the Cathedral are reserved for use throughout the event and signs clearly state this at the door as stated above. Churches and Cathedrals have been used as marketplaces for centuries and i do not believe this is in any way disrespectful.

Whilst we're not a charity this event supports local people trying to make a living during a difficult recession and allows people that don't have a lot of money to have an enjoyable day out for just £1. Money we generate from the stalls of the event is paid to the Cathedral for the use of the building and as pointed out above is a valuable source of income for the up keep and maintenance of the Cathedral. We feel our event is very positive for both the Cathedral and the community and so do thousands of other people that visit us each year.

No one will ever be charged to come and pray at Leicester Cathedral, that is a rule we and the venue have always observed. I am also sorry that some of you see the event in a negative light and we welcome any of you down to experience what we think is a happy, peaceful and positive event for yourselves

Louise Glover
Organiser of The Vintage Fair”

“I take it the market traders will no longer be required following the Richard III reinterment ?? Not really a very good impression for the visitors expected.”

“During a Vintage Fair at Leicester Cathedral there is a sign outside the main entrance that reads a chapel is open for private prayer and to those wishing to pray to ask for help. There should be no charge for admittance for those wishing to pray or use a chapel. The fact that you were charged will be fed back to the organisers to ensure this doesn't happen again. The fee the vintage fair pays is vital revenue for the cathedral that costs over £1.5k a day to keep open every day of the year. If members of the public would like to suggest ideas for raising funds that will help support the mission and ministry of the cathedral please contact claire.recordon@leccofe.org”

“Broadly I agree but above all it is not right to charge entry if a person only wished to pray or have some quiet reflection. Even at those large Cathedrals which now charge entry (Canterbury and York certainly and possibly others -something which I can understand but have never quite agreed with) there are arrangements (albeit not well advertised) for those who merely wish to enter for prayer.”

“It is inappropriate.”

“This is something that angers me too. The only time that Jesus is recorded in the gospels as being angry is when he entered the temple and found all the traders selling their wares (John 2,14-17), when he chided them, saying "You have turned my Father's house into a market place".

Churches are not places for doing business. The only exception I would make is if it is for charity.”