Living stones: English cathedrals as sacred spaces in changing times
Think tank: Theos
Author(s): George Lapshynov; Nathan Mladin
May 1, 2026
This report from UK think tank Theos explores the role of cathedrals in modern life.
The gap between what cathedrals contribute and the support they need is widening.
Drawing on a nationally representative YouGov poll, a separate survey of over 1,300 cathedral visitors, and qualitative fieldwork involving 146 interviewees across six representative cathedrals, this report examines the social, cultural and spiritual contribution of cathedrals.
It traces how cathedrals are changing, and what pressures they face, ultimately calling for greater recognition, both financial and societal, of cathedrals’ status as civic, cultural, and spiritual assets.
