Welcome to Rochester Cathedral
A place of Christian worship since AD604
A message from the Dean
We are delighted to welcome you to Rochester Cathedral and hope you enjoy your visit. The Cathedral celebrates and affirms all people regardless of ability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or sexuality – all are included within the hospitality and love of God. Please be mindful of your neighbour as you move around the Cathedral and remember others may be praying. You are invited to light a candle at one of the votive stands and rest awhile. I hope the beauty of this sacred place will help refresh and restore you and we will see you back soon. Please consider making a donation to help keep this Cathedral open for future generations to enjoy. Go well.
The Very Reverend Dr Philip Hesketh AKC DL Dean of Rochester
Coming to visit Rochester Cathedral? Find out our opening times and other useful information here.
Please check our upcoming closures before visiting
Coming soon at Rochester Cathedral
See the spectacular 13m long table made from the wood of a 5,000 year old fossilised black oak tree
The English Cathedral, the ambitious photographic project documenting all 42 of England’s Anglican cathedrals by the late Magnum photographer Peter Marlow will come to Rochester Cathedral in March 2023
Presented by Spirit Arts
This Installation-Exhibition takes as its inspirational starting point the renowned Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting
Returning by popular demand. Please note this exhibition will be in the aisle from the 23rd March - 4th April not the Nave as shown in the picture.
Upcoming Closures
Occasionally Rochester Cathedral is closed to visitors for events. Any upcoming closures will be listed below.
The Cathedral Choristers have been recording a special song with the BBC supporting Maidstone United as they reach the 5th stage of the FA Cup.
Dean Hesketh reflects on the season of Lent
On the 6th February Rochester Cathedral officially became a registered charity.
Rochester Cathedral will remain closed to visitors tomorrow (22nd December) to allow more time for specialist cleaning and ventilation following a small fire on the 20th December. Our morning services will take place in the Ithamar Chapel. Our Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service will start at 7.30pm with doors opening at 6.45pm. We will reopen to visitors on the 23rd December.
Every Church of England Cathedral is to benefit from the generosity of one man who so loved cathedrals he spent ten years of his life on pilgrimage visiting each one and has left them all a bequest in his will. But the legacy is more than financial. Frank Buzzard, who died last year at the age of 95, wrote his own guide to each of the cathedrals too, ranging from short reports to what he called an “epic poem.”
The Joseph from our Nativity scene was beginning to look tired and in need of a repaint. Michael, our Facilities Maintenance Assistant explains how he went about restoring it.
Rochester Cathedral were honoured to welcome HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh to Rochester Cathedral on the evening of the 14th November. The Duchess joined other esteemed guests for a special dinner inaugurating the campaign for a new Song School at the Cathedral. The Duchess of Edinburgh is the Royal Patron of the Rochester Cathedral Trust who organised the dinner.
Recently consultations took place with members of the Cathedral community. The aim of these consultations was to allow members of our community to comment on the proposed new Constitution and Statues. These are the governing documents of our Cathedral. They have been rewritten to bring the governance of Rochester Cathedral into accord with the Cathedral Measure 2021.
Rochester Cathedral is marking a month-long season of Safeguarding this year, in which we invite everyone to reflect on the past failures of the Church in protecting children and vulnerable adults, here in Rochester and elsewhere.
A Joint Appeal from Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop Hosam Naoum calling for prayers and donations for the Ahli Hospital in Gaza, and the ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem throughout the Holy Land which are also being greatly affected by the war.
The recently installed lighting system at Rochester Cathedral has been awarded an IALD Award of Excellence. The International Lighting Design Award celebrates exceptional lighting design and is considered one of the highest accolades in the lighting industry
Rochester Cathedral is to commemorate two early medieval saints whose shrines were lost for nearly 500 years. St Paulinus and St Ithamar were Bishops of Rochester in the 7th century, nearly 1400 years ago. On the 24th September the new shrine markers will be dedicated. They have been installed in front of the High Altar.
Diocese of Rochester
The Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Rochester and Mother Church of the Diocese of Rochester. The diocese covers West Kent and the London Boroughs of Bromley and Bexley. Discover more
Who's who in your Cathedral
Find out who is in the Cathedral team here.
Safeguarding
The care and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults visiting and participating in Cathedral activities is important to us. You can find out more about our safeguarding policies here.