The Rochester Cathedral Trust

Rochester Cathedral is a site of national and local importance. For centuries it has been a place of worship and pilgrimage. It costs over £5,500 a day to keep the cathedral open. The cathedral receives no government money, very little income from central Church of England funds, and is almost entirely self-funding. Projects to maintain its ancient buildings, to improve its music and amenities, or to develop its outreach depend on charitable giving, sponsorship, grant aid, and legacies.

The Rochester Cathedral Trust (Reg. Charity No. 291616) was created in 1985. Its charitable objects include

  • The endowment of the cathedral’s music, choral tradition, and musical outreach into the community

  • The preservation and maintenance of the cathedral’s historic fabric

  • The promotion of the cathedral’s heritage as a historic landmark and holy place

  • The development of the cathedral’s estate, grounds, and amenities

The Trustees take a proactive and strategic approach to grant-making based on the cathedral’s development plan. The Trust honours the cathedral’s Benedictine roots and is guided by the Chapter’s key aims to ‘enrich, resource, and grow’ the cathedral’s mission to be a place of worship, prayer, community, and service.

As with any charity RCT has administrative expenses to meet, and these are kept to a minimum. Donations are a principal source of income from which these expenses can be met, and this includes donations restricted to a specific purpose. Accordingly, up to 15% of any restricted donation will be applied towards administrative expenses.

Fundraising

In 2025 the Trust raised £165,927 and was able to grant £97,460 to cathedral projects during the year. The primary focus throughout the year was to provide financial support for the Cathedral’s music. The Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the past financial year can be viewed here.

Each year the Trust runs fundraising events and hosts several social events. Information about these and other initiatives undertaken by the Trust can be found in the link to the Rochester Cathedral Trust Newsletter, the Gundulf Society, and the Business Guild. Information about upcoming events can be found below.

Find out about our Trustees here:

 

Patrons

We are honoured that HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO is Patron of the Rochester Cathedral Trust.
We are also extremely fortunate to have Jools Holland OBE DL as our Music Patron and a most generous supporter of the choir for many years.
They are joined by Rory Sutherland, Lord Blackwater, The Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain and Marian Boswall
Find out more about them below:

HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO

© 2013 The Royal Household Bagshot Park/Image by Millie Pilkington

Lady Colgrain, Lord Lieutenant of Kent

Jools Holland OBE DL

Jools Holland OBE DL is a musician, bandleader and broadcaster, best known as the long‑standing host of Later… with Jools Holland and leader of Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. A lifelong champion of live music, he serves as our Music Patron.

Photo by Mary McCartney

Rory Sutherland

Rory Sutherland is Vice Chairman of Ogilvy, an attractively vague title that has enabled him to co‑found Ogilvy Change, the agency’s influential behavioural science practice. He is also the author of Alchemy and a widely admired commentator on human behaviour.

Lord Blackwater
(Simon Heffer)

(Lord Blackwater is a historian, journalist and life peer, serving as Professor of Modern British History at the University of Buckingham. Formerly Deputy Editor of the Daily Telegraph, he is a distinguished author, commentator and member of the House of Lords.

Marian Boswall

Marian is a leading Landscape Architect known for her regenerative, long‑term approach to land, gardens and ecology. An award‑winning author and TEDx speaker, she co‑founded the Sustainable Landscape Foundation and Chalk to Coast, with kindness at the heart of her work.

Contact the Rochester Cathedral Trust

The Trust is administered by Becca Mitchell‑Lowe, who welcomes enquiries and can advise on the Trust’s activities and how best to support its work.

Get in touch via trust@rochestercathedral.org or 01634 810074

Find out more