Closed For Business

[sunny-dave]

I tend to think that they may (I hope) have taken careful aim and shot themselves in the foot here.

If it's a business (and a damned rich one at that) why should they get lottery money destined for charitable causes?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-22500071

[Zacs-Master]

Yes, a very strange plea for money. Come to our cathedral and risk getting brained by a piece of masonary.

[jno]

depends - the cathedral may be a business, but I suspect you mean the entire CofE is a rich one? I wouldn't bet that individual buildings are well off; they're expensive to keep up and there are a lot of them.

[FredPuli43]

And why was it refused lottery money? It'll find the money somewhere, and if it doesn't, well, tough.

[Gromit]

York Minster recieved £10.5million lottery funding.

http://www.yorkminsterrevealed.org/about/heritage-lottery-fund.html

I suspect Canterbury may have filled in the application forms incorrectly. It is perfectly normal for businesses such as theirs to get lottery money. They are obviously upset at not getting the money, but the whinging in the link is terribly counter-productive. They are saying our attraction is a mess and dangerous. Perhaps a dignified silence would have been better.

Then there is the bigger question. Should the church take money from the proceeds of gambling? I know some Islamic organisations will not apply for lottery funding. (though from my own observations, plenty of muslim people play the lottery).

[mikey4444]

I don't know why they were refused lottery funding but this building played a very important part in our nations history. If the need for money is so great, as it would seem to be, surely there must be other ways to some money.

In America this sort of thing would be supported very enthusiastically by individual and companies. There must a way to encourage the same sort of thing over here.

[Gromit]

http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/supporting-us/canterbury-cathedral-trust/

[naomi24]

//why should they get lottery money destined for charitable causes? //

It's entitled to apply for a lottery grant because it's a registered charity. As has been said, whilst the Church of England is phenomenally wealthy, individual churches, which cost a great deal to maintain, have to provide their own funding which is why you often see churches trying to raise funds for roof repairs, etc.

[naomi24]

I should have added that individual churches are also obliged to raise funds to pay priests wages and a good deal of their living expenses too, ie accommodation, telephone bills, etc. The main body simply appears to hoard and invest its income, becoming ever-more wealthy.

[chrisgel]

Perhaps PFI is the way to go. Canterbury Cathedral sponsored by Ladbrokes.
Or turn it into a theme park. "Come and see where people used to worship"
Ridiculous idea the church begging for money raised from gambling.

[humbersloop]

It's a World Heritage Site, so the knock back's from the Heritage Lottery Fund rather than the "mainstream" charitable causes Lottery.

I do find it surprising that a project of this magnitude got to the final stage and was refused - somebody got their homework badly wrong

[sunny-dave]

Thanks for the replies - I agree it's a very important part of our national heritage, but am just uncomfortable with the Church of England 'hoarding' (as Naomi says) its considerable central resources whilst pleading poverty on a local level.

The argument about 'what is a charity' is perhaps worthy of a separate discussion - should it include religious organisations (some of which do very valuable community work, some of which don't), should it include Public Schools etc etc.

[humbersloop]

and there's a debate going on about effective regulation too dave

http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/Governance/article/1181487/charity-commission-brought-sector-disrepute-says-ncvo-chief/

[modeller]

I can't see any problem .! God will provide !