By Gemma Gradwell
A cash-strapped cathedral will host a 1920s-style black-tie ball with tickets going for almost £50 a pop in a bid to raise funds.
Canterbury Cathedral will host its “night of glamour,” dubbed The Great Gatsby Ball, in a fresh move to help cover its £11 million annual running cost.
Church bosses have sought new ways to stump up the £30,000 per day running costs, including hosting a huge silent disco last summer, trying to sell off its Christ Church Gate entrance, and, perhaps more surprisingly, considering housing a 5G telephone mast.
Now, the Chapter of Canterbury has unveiled how live music and theatrical performances will play out for an evening inside the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Revellers can also shell out an extra £17 for a photo opportunity in what organisers call Gatsby’s Golden Cage, during the event on September 5, from 7-11pm.
“The event will welcome guests into a dazzling reimagining of the Roaring Twenties, with live music, theatrical performers and stylish production bringing the Jazz Age to life – all within the historic walls of one of Britain’s most revered heritage sites,” a spokesperson said.
“We wanted to create a spectacular night that celebrates music, style, and elegance, right in the heart of Canterbury.
“There’s something incredibly powerful about dancing to a live jazz band inside one of the most awe-inspiring venues in the country.”
The first wave of tickets has sold out, with second release costing £44.65, plus add-ons.
The event calls for an elegant dress code, encouraging flapper dresses, tuxedos and Gatsby-era suits.
Critics of previous Cathedral events have labelled them profane, arguing that the events promoting drinking and dancing desecrate God’s house.
A petition calling for a halt to party-style events at the cathedral reached 2,000 signatures last February, and prayers were held outside the venue in protest.
Furthermore, plans to overhaul Christ Church Gate, one of the most photographed Christian landmarks in the country, into an Airbnb holiday let have also come under fire.
If plans progress, the one-bedroom apartment would fill previously used office space on the first and second floors of the tower.
Explaining the reasoning behind the plans, a Canterbury Cathedral spokesperson said: “The best long-term way to care for our historic buildings, and ensure that they are maintained for future generations, is for them to be used and loved by residents and visitors.”
It is understood visitor numbers have remained low since the pandemic, with a shortfall of £1 million a year in tourist cash continuing to cause concern.
