They Said Christianity Was Dying... Then This Cathedral Broke Every Record.

Bradford Cathedral has seen record numbers of people passing through its doors in 2025, thanks largely to the British government's decision to name Bradford as the "City of Culture" for 2025.

The cathedral reported that drop-in visitor numbers were double that of any previous year since records began. In response, the cathedral put on a number of tours and events to cater for the surge in visitor numbers.

Bradford Cathedral's Director of Education and Visitors, Maggie Myers, said

"We are delighted that so many thousands of people have come through the Cathedral's doors in 2025, for such a variety of reasons and from so many different parts of the country and the world. We've recorded visitors from all over Britain and from at least 36 other countries."

Since January, the cathedral has put on history, stained glass, textiles, and architecture guided tours of the building at regular intervals. They have also done large-scale events for different audiences, such as music events, exhibitions, educational visits, family activities, two days of events for crafters, and a Heritage Open Day with a focus on female-led creativity and design. The outside timeline of the cathedral's history since Saxon times was also a big hit with visitors.

Previous Cities of Culture chosen by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport include Coventry, Kingston upon Hull, and Londonderry. While the cultural events of the year may have inflated Bradford Cathedral's usual numbers, other evidence suggests that the Church of England and Christianity more broadly are experiencing a resurgence in interest. Official Church of England statistics published this week showed a rise in attendance for the fourth year in a row, albeit with signs that the post-pandemic recovery is slowing.

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

Record visitor numbers at a cathedral in 2025.

People are hungry for something real.

Something ancient.

Something transcendent.

And they'll find it in Christ.

While secular culture peddles empty promises of fulfillment through consumption and self-worship, thousands are walking through cathedral doors searching for meaning. Bradford Cathedral has stood as a site of Christian worship since the 7th century. That's 1,400 years of faithful witness. And people are noticing.

This is what happens when the Church opens its doors and invites people into sacred space. Beauty draws people to truth. Architecture that points to heaven reminds us we're made for more than this world. Stained glass that tells the Gospel story speaks to souls starved of transcendence.

The world is exhausted by modernity's lies. And the ancient faith is waiting with answers.

TAKE ACTION

Bradford Cathedral https://bradfordcathedral.org.uk/

Email: info@bradfordcathedral.org

Phone: +44 1274 777720

Support Church of England Cathedrals https://www.englishcathedrals.co.uk/