Image copyright
fake pictures
The dean of Westminster Abbey, the Rev. Dr. David Hoyle, told the BBC: “We are vulnerable and we are becoming more vulnerable.”
Westminster Abbey has cut more than £ 12 million in revenue this year and is expected to lay off about 20% of its staff as a result of the blockade.
More than 90% of their income comes from visitors who pay an entrance fee.
It closed its doors on March 20 and only reopened for limited sightseeing on July 11.
The dean of Westminster Abbey, the Rev. Dr. David Hoyle, told the BBC that the coronavirus had dealt a “devastating blow” to the finances of the Abbey.
Separately, the 42 cathedrals of the Church of England are projected to drop more than £ 28.4 million on what they thought their budgets would be this year.
They are projected to lose another £ 15.5 million next year.
“Impressive” loss
The Association of English Cathedrals, which represents Westminster Abbey and the 42 cathedrals of the Church of England, warned that job cuts would affect churches across the country when the government’s job retention plan ended in October.
The Abbey’s financial reserves would be depleted by a third as of September, Dr. Hoyle said, and would continue to decline as visitor numbers were not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels for up to five years.
“There is a real need here,” he said, noting that Westminster Abbey was also expecting a similar “impressive” loss of between £ 9m and £ 12m next year.
The Abbey is open for services and visits, but the numbers are limited as social distancing is applied.
Dr. Hoyle said it was “inconceivable” that the Abbey was so quiet, as in a “normal” month of July, it would admit 1,000 people an hour.
“We are vulnerable and we are becoming more vulnerable,” he said.
“We are negotiating one of the biggest challenges to reach the Abbey in recent times.”
Image copyright
PA Media
Coronavirus saw the Abbey closed the longest since the Queen’s coronation
The Abbey has already announced plans to scrap regular Sunday services at St Margaret’s, a medieval church on Parliament Square. The professional choir at St Margaret’s will dissolve and the faithful will be asked to merge with the congregation at the Abbey.
Due to its Royal Peculiar status, Westminster Abbey does not count as one of the 42 cathedrals of the Church of England. Instead, it is the direct property of the monarch, which means that it is not eligible for funding from Church commissioners.
‘Almost zero’
While the Abbey gets most of its income from tourism, many places of worship across the UK depend on cash donations from congregations to survive. Having been forced to close their doors due to the closure, many are struggling financially.
A Sikh temple, Singh Sabha London East, generally received around £ 80,000 a month in donations from attendees. During the shutdown, despite losing 90% of his monthly income, the gurdwara provided more than 4,000 meals to NHS staff and other key workers.
But Sukhbir Bassi, one of the leading figures in the gurdwara, said that could not continue without government support.
“We are having serious, serious problems,” he said.
Singh Sabha London East received £ 80,000 a month in donations before closing
The government has pledged £ 750m in support of voluntary, community and social business organizations.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We understand that the difficulty of the confinement has caused people of faith, that is why we have worked in association with religious leaders to allow a gradual and safe reopening of places of worship.” .
He said that religious organizations had access to government support, including the Coronavirus Community Support Fund.
