Derby Cathedral
Derby Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral and registered charity in Derby, UK, founded in 943 AD and elevated to Cathedral status in 1927. It serves worshippers, visitors, concert attendees, schools, and refugees through worship, music, heritage, and community outreach programmes funded primarily by donations, subscriptions, and events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersDerby, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Derby Cathedral does
Derby Cathedral (The Cathedral Church of All Saints) is a Church of England cathedral and registered charity (Number 1207768) located at 18-19 Iron Gate in central Derby, England. Founded as a church in 943 AD by King Edmund of Wessex and elevated to Cathedral status in 1927 with the creation of the Diocese of Derby, it operates under the governance of the Dean and Chapter within the Cathedrals Measure 2021 framework. The institution serves multiple overlapping constituencies: a primary worshipper and faith community attending regular services (Holy Communion, Cathedral Eucharist, Choral Evensong, Morning Prayer), visitors and tourists to a Grade 1 Listed building, concert and event attendees (ticketed candlelight concerts, organ recitals, orchestral performances), schools engaged through the Music in Schools programme, refugees and asylum seekers supported via its Cathedral of Sanctuary designation, and corporate partners.
The Cathedral delivers its mission through a portfolio of activities: a choral music programme led by Director of Music Alexander Binns with adult and junior choirs; educational outreach via Music in Schools sessions across Derby and Derbyshire; heritage and cultural programming including exhibitions (notably the upcoming Helios installation by Luke Jerram in October 2026); guided tower tours; weddings, baptisms, and funerals; and community outreach including food bank partnerships. The Cathedral runs a secondary site, the medieval Bridge Chapel on the River Derwent, one of only six surviving medieval bridge chapels in the UK.
The revenue model is multi-stream and donation-led. Recurring income comes from the Parish Giving Scheme (direct debit regular giving with Gift Aid), Friends of Derby Cathedral subscriptions (£15 personal to £270 joint life), and the Music Patron Scheme. Transactional revenue is generated through ticketed concerts (via Concerts by Candlelight and Ticket Tailor platforms), guided tours (£8 adult / £3 child), venue hire, and recommended donations for exhibitions (£5 for Helios). Corporate sponsorship, legacies, and fundraising supplement these streams. Weekly running costs are £12,500 (~£650,000 annually), with limited support from the Church of England and Government, making donation income operationally critical. The Cathedral operates with approximately 200 volunteers, around 20 named paid staff, and governance oversight from Chapter including a Senior Non-Executive Member required by the Cathedrals Measure 2021.
Derby Cathedral firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Derby Cathedral
- Legal name
- The Dean and Chapter of Derby Cathedral
- Website
- https://derbycathedral.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Derby Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral and registered charity in Derby, UK, founded in 943 AD and elevated to Cathedral status in 1927. It serves worshippers, visitors, concert attendees, schools, and refugees through worship, music, heritage, and community outreach programmes funded primarily by donations, subscriptions, and events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Derby Cathedral industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious and Heritage Cathedral Services
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Historical Sites (712120)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Religious Landmarks & Pilgrimage Sites (Temples, Churches, Shrines) (THAJACAG), Religious & Sacred Sites Tours (THAJAAAF), Religious Music & Worship Broadcasting (MPABALAN)
Keywords
Where Derby Cathedral is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Derby
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Derby Cathedral business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Regular Giving: The Cathedral relies heavily on donations from supporters. The preferred method is through the Parish Giving Scheme (direct debit), which provides reliable regular income. Gift Aid adds 25% to donations at no extra cost to the donor. Running costs are £12,500 per week.
- Friends of Derby Cathedral Membership: Annual subscriptions from the Friends network support Cathedral projects including fabric care, heritage preservation, and facilities. Subscription rates: Personal £15, Joint £25, PCC £25, Life £225, Joint Life £270.
- Event and Concert Revenue: The Cathedral hosts ticketed concerts and events including candlelight concerts, organ recitals, and orchestral performances. Revenue comes from ticket sales through external platforms such as Concerts by Candlelight and Ticket Tailor.
- Venue Hire and Tours: The Cathedral generates revenue from guided tower tours (£8.00 per adult, £3.00 per child) and room hire for special services and events.
- Donations for Exhibitions: For the Helios exhibition, visitors are encouraged to make a donation of £5 to enjoy the installation, with donations supporting the Cathedral's vision.
- Corporate Support and Sponsorship: Businesses can support the Cathedral through volunteering opportunities, sponsorship of key events, fundraising for specific projects, and in-kind support.
- Music Patron Scheme: A membership scheme supporting the music department, funding chorister singing lessons, Music in Schools sessions, music scores and robes, professional tuition, and new music development programmes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Guided Tours: £8.00 per adult, £3.00 per child |
| Subscription | Annual | Friends of Derby Cathedral Annual Membership: Personal £15, Joint £25, PCC £25, Life £225, Joint Life £270 |
| Donation/ grant-funded | Pay-as-you-go | Helios Exhibition: Recommended donation of £5 |
| Subscription | Annual | Music Patron Scheme: Variable membership options |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Candlelight Concert Tickets: Variable pricing by event |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Derby Cathedral product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Derby Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral that provides regular worship services, choral music programmes, heritage and tower tours, hosting of concerts and art exhibitions, religious life ceremonies (weddings, baptisms, funerals), community outreach including refugee support, and music education through its Music in Schools programme. Its offerings are supported by approximately 200 volunteers and funded through donations, memberships, ticket sales, and grants.
Product overview
Derby Cathedral operates as a unified religious and cultural institution offering worship services, educational programs, and community engagement. The core offerings include regular religious services (Eucharist, Evensong, Morning Prayer) supported by the Cathedral Choir, complemented by Music in Schools educational outreach. Cultural services encompass event hosting (concerts, exhibitions), guided tours including Virtual Tower Tour, and heritage sites like The Bridge Chapel. Community programs include volunteering opportunities and outreach initiatives supported by the Cathedral of Sanctuary designation. Funding is supported through donations, Parish Giving Scheme, and Music Patron Scheme memberships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Derby Cathedral School: A Church of England secondary school, founded in partnership with Derby Cathedral Chapter.
- Friends of Derby Cathedral
- Helios
- The Cathedral Flag
Products and services
- Worship Services
- Cathedral Choir
- Music in Schools
- Special Religious Ceremonies
- Guided Tower Tours
- Event Hosting and Venue Hire
- Friends of Derby Cathedral Membership
- Music Patron Scheme
- The Bridge Chapel
- Volunteering Programme
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 55,000 visitors to Museum of the Moon installation (2019); thousands more to Gaia (2022)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Derby Cathedral
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Derby Cathedral technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Derby Cathedral partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Diocese of DerbycoreDerby Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Derby and a centre for mission and worship serving the people and parishes of the Diocese. The Diocese and Cathedral jointly celebrate milestones including the centenary in 2027.
- Derby Cathedral SchoolcoreThe Chapter of Derby Cathedral is a founding partner of Derby Cathedral School, working with the Head Teacher and staff to give children a good experience of the Cathedral and its mission.
- Friends of Derby CathedralcoreThe Friends network provides financial support for approved Cathedral projects through subscriptions, legacies, donations, and fundraising events. They contributed 50% towards the new broadcasting system and supported the Helios installation.
- Luke JerramminorInternationally acclaimed artist bringing his Helios installation (seven-metre model of the sun) to Derby Cathedral for its centenary celebrations in October 2026.
- University of DerbyminorDerby Cathedral has an Anglican Chaplain at the University of Derby. Edward Turner also directs Derby University Choir, strengthening ties with the university community.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Derby Cathedral competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Canterbury Cathedral: Mother church of the Church of England and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Directly comparable as a CoE cathedral operating worship, music, heritage visitation, and donations-led funding.
- York Minster: Large historic CoE cathedral with extensive choral tradition, heritage tourism, and similar operational mix of worship, music education, and ticketed events. Comparable scale and visitor economics.
- Salisbury Cathedral: Grade 1 listed medieval CoE cathedral with activities, music, and visitor offering. Comparable in terms of heritage tourism, choral tradition, and National Lottery heritage funding model.
- Coventry Cathedral: Mid-sized CoE cathedral with strong modern cultural programming, music, and social justice/outreach positioning. Comparable in balancing heritage and contemporary community engagement.
- Lichfield Cathedral: Mid-sized medieval CoE cathedral explicitly referenced in Derby Cathedral's leadership background (Canon Shrisunder was a Prebendary of Lichfield). Operates similar worship, music, heritage, and fundraising programmes.
- Lincoln Cathedral: Large medieval CoE cathedral with significant visitor footfall, ongoing heritage restoration projects, and a similar multi-stream funding model. One of the most directly comparable CoE cathedrals by scale and operations.
- Southwell Minster: CoE cathedral with strong choral and music programme; explicitly referenced in Derby Cathedral's organist background (Edward Turner). Operates worship, music, and heritage visitor services at a similar scale.
Broad incumbents
- Westminster Abbey: Major historic CoE church and royal peculiar with substantially larger scale, visitor volumes, and commercial operations. Broad incumbent in the same religious heritage category, useful for benchmarking but operating at a different scale.
Regional players
- Wakefield Cathedral: CoE cathedral in Yorkshire explicitly referenced in Derby Cathedral's clergy background (Canon Shrisunder ordained at Wakefield). Comparable mid-sized CoE cathedral with similar mix of worship, music, and heritage.
- Sheffield Cathedral: CoE cathedral serving the Diocese of Sheffield in the East Midlands/North region. Comparable in scale, congregation, and operational model though serving a different urban diocese.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Derby Cathedral social profiles
Digital presenceDerby Cathedral compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Derby Cathedral financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Derby Cathedral leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Derby Cathedral subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Derby Cathedral funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Derby Cathedral M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Derby Cathedral
What does Derby Cathedral do?
Derby Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral that provides regular worship services, choral music programmes, heritage and tower tours, hosting of concerts and art exhibitions, religious life ceremonies (weddings, baptisms, funerals), community outreach including refugee support, and music education through its Music in Schools programme. Its offerings are supported by approximately 200 volunteers and funded through donations, memberships, ticket sales, and grants.
Is Derby Cathedral a public or private company?
Derby Cathedral is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Derby Cathedral founded?
Derby Cathedral was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Derby Cathedral based?
Derby Cathedral is headquartered in Derby, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Derby Cathedral make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Donations and Regular Giving is the primary driver. The others are friends of Derby Cathedral Membership, event and Concert Revenue, venue Hire and Tours, donations for Exhibitions, corporate Support and Sponsorship and music Patron Scheme.
Who are Derby Cathedral's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster, Salisbury Cathedral, Coventry Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral and Southwell Minster. Westminster Abbey is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Wakefield Cathedral and Sheffield Cathedral.
Does Derby Cathedral have an API?
No public API is recorded for Derby Cathedral.
What industry is Derby Cathedral in?
Derby Cathedral's product category is Religious and Heritage Cathedral Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAL, Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites), with a secondary code of THAJACAG, Religious Landmarks & Pilgrimage Sites (Temples, Churches, Shrines). Its NAICS code is 8131 and its SIC code is 7900.