Cathedral Development and Vision

“This is a special place and a special time for Rochester Cathedral. Medway is on the verge of major regeneration and it's only right that the Cathedral should play a central role in it. The Cathedral is an iconic building for Medway and we contribute at so many levels – to social outreach, art and culture, heritage and tourism, education and citizenship, the environment, and above all faith and spirituality.  This is not a time to be inward-looking, but an opportunity to reach out and engage positively with the real needs of the community around us.  In order to do this, we need the support of people who look to the Cathedral for a lead and want it to play a significant role in Rochester, Medway and beyond.”

Canon Dr Phil Hesketh

Acting Dean of Rochester

Rochester Cathedral faces a number of difficult but potentially exciting challenges – challenges which must be met head on if Rochester is not just to survive but also to flourish and prosper.

Most people assume that Cathedrals are wealthy, well-heeled places, funded either by the Government or the Diocese of the national Church.  Nothing could be further from the truth!

These extraordinary buildings do not receive a single penny from the Government – very different from the continent where the State pays for their upkeep.  The Diocese doesn’t support the Cathedral financially either, and apart from the Church Commissioners’ welcome funding for 3 clergy and a small contribution to the administration of the Cathedral, everything else has to be raised locally.

This puts every medieval Cathedral under enormous strain.

Over the past few years Rochester Cathedral has done a huge amount to address a critical backlog of major issues with the conservation and repair of this wonderful building.  Over £5million has been raised – and spent!  The work continues, and needs your support if we are to provide future generations with a Cathedral which will enrich their lives.

The fundraising focuses on three main areas :

Music Forever

We can no longer afford to pay for the continuation of Rochester’s musical tradition. Music is our single largest expense and we cannot sustain it if we don’t take action now. We aim to establish a significant Endowment which will ensure that Rochester’s musical tradition is not just maintained but enhanced. Rochester can be a centre of musical excellence for the whole community if we have the funds in place.

----- Endow a Day of Music at Rochester Cathedral Forever -----

The Welcoming Cathedral

Maintaining a Cathedral building is expensive. We are faced with £2,500,000 worth of works over the next 10 years to provide a safe and welcoming building accessible to everyone. A co-ordinated approach is required which will not only see the heritage and architecture of the cathedral restored, preserved and repaired but will also develop the cathedral for a host of different uses for the whole community.

Visitors & Education

Rochester Cathedral is a gem, with treasure and history aplenty, and over the past 2 years we have developed a wonderful project called Ancient Stones Untold Stories, which offers a unique experience to our 150,000 visitors each year. Our Education Department welcomes 15,000 young people for a curriculum-based day of learning, and our Music Department is pioneering new approaches to music outreach in the local community.  We want to build on this success and support it well into the future.

Message from the Chairman of Rochester Cathedral Trust, Michael Aiken

"As England's second oldest Cathedral, this beautiful building has been witness to many of the Country's historic events and dramas. Its architecture reflects the progressive passage of centuries with the Norman element being very striking. The whole atmosphere in and around the Cathedral is one of holiness and spirituality. I feel very privileged to be involved in its life."

Educated at the Grammar School in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, Michael spent a period under articles in Chartered Accountancy, following which he joined the Army. He served for more than five years, first in the Parachute Regiment and then with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers as a Platoon Commander. He then entered the business world, progressively achieving senior appointments in the brewing, leisure and shipping industries. He was a board member of a number of companies within Grand Metropolitan plc, now Diageo, including being CEO of Truman Hanbury and Buxton, London’s oldest brewery company.

He became the first private sector director to join the Board of the newly privatised Sealink British Ferries, an early privatisation and then the Europe’s largest ferries and ports company. After running Sea Containers international ferries and ports business, he decided to operate independently and acquired Wightlink Shipping Ltd., the UK’s largest domestic ferries and ports enterprise becoming the principle shareholder and CEO. He was also a Board Member of the British Chamber of Shipping. He subsequently sold his interest in Wightlink, Michael retains an active interest in business and is also active in the charitable world.

Michael is Chairman of the Mary Rose Trust and also Chairman of The Leadership Trust, a board member of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, a council member in the South East for The Prince’s Trust and Chairman of Aiken Spence Ltd. He has recently succeeded Lord Astor as Chairman of Rochester Cathedral Trust.

Michael is married to Sigi and they have three sons. His hobbies include sailing and country pursuits.