16.01.2026
Places of Encounter and Pilgrimage – Cathedrals Conference Comes to Dublin
Almost 70 representatives of cathedrals from across Ireland and the UK gathered in Christ Church and St Patrick’s cathedrals in Dublin this week. The Cathedrals Plus conference was jointly hosted by the two cathedrals from January 13 to 15 in a rare departure from UK venues. Together delegates considered the theme: Inspiring Lives – People of Faith at the Heart of the Community and explored the role of cathedrals in welcoming visitors to their sacred spaces.
The inaugural meeting of what was to become Cathedrals Plus, formerly The Pilgrims’ Association, was held in London in 1981. A group of representatives, mainly from Church of England Cathedrals, were concerned that visitor numbers were growing to such an extent that in some cases the traditional ‘ministry of welcome’ was under threat.
It was agreed to create a forum in which those responsible for the care and welcome of pilgrims, tourists and visitors could meet and exchange ideas and experiences and pass on solutions to problems that had been encountered.
Delegates at the conference included Deans and those involved in cathedrals’ education or welcome departments.
Welcoming delegates on Tuesday, Dean of Christ Church, the Very Revd Dermot Dunne, recalled the mantra of the late Dean John Patterson – ‘Welcome the visitor and send them away as a pilgrim’. This had been the mantra of the cathedral for the last 25 years, he said.
“Today the cathedral is one of the most important historical sites in Dublin and Ireland. It is one of the major tourist attractions in the city and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout the year. In contrast to the early days, we now have a dedicated, paid welcome team who embrace the mantra of welcoming the visitor and sending them away as pilgrims. The cathedral shop has grown from strength to strength to become a commercial success. Our visitor and education programmes open the cathedral to new audiences from across the globe. We also have a rich and varied worship programme with a professional choir directed by a skilled and competent music director who has developed the music department to be the envy of many,” he stated.
Dean Dunne said this would not be possible without the cathedral’s CEO, Susanne Reid. “The question is: how do we manage the tension between the worship life of the cathedral and its commercial expression?” he asked. He explained that the tension was managed in Christ Church through intentional team work and communication. The key working relationship was between the Dean, the CEO and the Director of Music and from this “creative triangle of mission and teamwork a cohesive mission is shared across all areas of the cathedral”, he said.
Dean Dunne thanked the organisers of the conference and in particular Christ Church Cathedral’s Head of Learning and Interpretation, Ruth Kenny, for the work she had put into the programme.
Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Very Revd William Morton, said it was particularly fitting that the conference was jointly hosted by St Patrick’s and Christ Church cathedrals whose foundations had helped shape Dublin city for centuries. He spoke of the connections of the cathedrals to St Patrick and St Laurence and mentioned St Patrick’s “most illustrious Dean”, Jonathan Swift who used his moral position for the common good of the city.
He said the theme of the conference reminded delegates that cathedrals are never simply places to admire. “They are places of encounter, built of stone and story and prayer which come fully alive only through the welcome offered, questions answered and faith shared,” he said. He added: “Each day we stand at the threshold of new experiences – our liturgy, our school, choristers, visitors full of curiosity, people on their pilgrimage of faith and others who arrive carrying questions they may not yet know they have. For many we are the first ever expression of church they may meet. We turn ancient buildings into places of wonderful hospitality and hope right in the heart of our communities. What we do faithfully and quietly truly does inspire lives.”
Dean Anthony Cane, chair of Cathedrals Plus and Dean of Portsmouth, thanked his fellow Deans for their welcome and the staff who had put the programme together. He looked forward to exploring Dublin and said he was really excited about the theme of Inspiring Lives: People of Faith at the Heart of Community and the quality of the programme. He hoped delegates would be inspired.
The keynote speaker was the Revd Dr Alex Wimberley, leader of the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland who addressed delegates on ‘At the Heart: Corrymeela as a Community of Reconciliation’. Other contributors included the Revd Abigail Sines who spoke on ‘The Power of Quirky: Connection, Creativity and Craft’, which focused on the Knitted Bible Project which is currently on display in Christ Church. Kelley Bermingham, St Patrick’s Community Officer, spoke on the subject of ‘Faith in Action: Engaging, Listening and Leading’.
Workshops and a panel discussion explored a wide range of topics from keeping cathedrals alive and community cafes, to outreach and connection to music outreach.
