The lure of Christian worship as much as the attraction of history and architecture is driving a boom in visits to cathedrals, according to the guardian of England’s national heritage. Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said it was clear that cathedrals are bucking a national trend towards declining church attendance. Official figures from the Church of England show that the 42 Anglican cathedrals in England alone attracted around 12 million visitors last year. One recent study by the think-tank Theos estimated that across the UK at least 11 million Britons – not counting foreign tourists or school parties – visit cathedral at least once a year, more than a quarter of the entire adult population.

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