Gloucester Cathedral

These are uncertain and difficult times for us all as the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to affect our loved ones and communities. As the Cathedral, serving our city, county and diocese, we consider everyone in the region - and all our visitors – part of the Gloucester Cathedral family.

The Cathedral has stood as a beacon of hope for almost 1,000 years - we will get through this together.

We want to assure you that we are working hard to protect you, our employees and our volunteers. In that spirit, we want to share the following update with you:
The Cathedral Remains Open for Prayer and Contemplation

The Cathedral is open between 10.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Saturday and 11.30am to 5.00pm on Sundays and will remain so for as long as possible. Everyone is welcome to come and pray, to light a candle, or simply to find respite. This is your Cathedral and we are here for you if you need us.

To protect our volunteers, we have taken the decision to stand them down and are operating with a reduced staff team. Consequently, there will be no tours and the Tribune Gallery Exhibition area is closed. The Gift Shop and the Monk’s Kitchen are also closed until further notice.

Public Worship is Suspended but Daily Services Continue

Due to Government and Church of England guidance around non-essential contact, we have taken the decision to pause public worship until further notice. This is to help reduce the risk of passing the coronavirus onto others and to keep our worshipping community healthy and safe.

The Cathedral is a powerhouse of prayer and members of the clergy will continue to hold daily services on behalf of the community. You can find prayers and other resources online to use at home via the Church of England Website. You can also submit prayers which will be read out at our daily services by emailing [email protected] or contacting us directly on social media.

Light A Candle of Hope – Sunday 22 March, 7.00pm National Time of Prayer and Action

This Sunday, we invite you to join us in a National Time of Prayer to see an end to the Coronavirus pandemic. You can participate by lighting a candle and placing it in your window at 7.00pm as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, our source and hope in prayer. The Light of Christ has never been more needed to shine in our communities.

Events are Cancelled until Friday 1 May

All events have been cancelled until Friday 1 May, although it is likely that this will be extended. We look forward to welcoming you back for an exciting programme of events and activities as soon as possible.

If you were planning to hire the Cathedral for an event, please note that all bookings have been paused until further notice. If you have any queries, please contact [email protected]

Keeping in Touch

We will continue to update you as things develop. Please keep in touch by checking the website regularly and by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

General Advice for Visitors

We are closely following guidelines issued by Public Health England, the British Government and the Church of England (C of E) to provide a healthy environment for our visitors and worshippers. High standards of hygiene are being maintained and we have increased our regular cleaning patterns. If you are planning to visit us, you can help make sure we keep the Cathedral a healthy place to visit by using tissues to catch coughs and sneezes (and then binning the tissue), washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water or using sanitiser gel to kill germs and following social distancing guidelines (2 metres).

Coronavirus Prayer

As a Cathedral Community we pray daily for all of those affected by the virus and their families, as well as the healthcare professionals working tirelessly to protect our communities.

Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy.
Sustain and support the anxious,
be with those who care for the sick,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God Bless You.

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