Exeter Cathedral Strategic Plan
Our Mission
In response to Jesus’ commandment, we seek to:
- Love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength
- Love our neighbour as ourselves
Our Values
“To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” Micah 6.8
Our Role
- The Seat of the Bishop of Exeter
- A centre for worship and mission in the Diocese
- A place of civic gathering for the people of Exeter and Devon
Our Vision
Exeter Cathedral is a sacred and beautiful place at the heart of Devon. We seek to:
- be a community of engaging worship and prayer, gracious welcome, and transformation (Worship)
- offer an inclusive invitation to engage with our worship, community, arts, heritage, and events (Welcome)
- enable all who engage with our life to flourish within a healthy safeguarding culture (Wellbeing)
To support this, we seek responsibly to develop our people, buildings, treasures, and finances, in support of a sustainable future for the cathedral and God’s creation
Exeter Cathedral
Worship, Welcome, Wellbeing
Exeter Cathedral, founded nearly 1000 years ago, stands at the heart of the County of Devon and Diocese of Exeter. It is the Seat of the Bishop of Exeter, and a focal point and resource for the wider church in Devon. It belongs to the people of Devon, works in partnership with civic and community institutions, and is a gathering place for our County. It has a world-wide vision, engaging the national and international church, and drawing people from across the world to enjoy its inspiration, beauty, and life.
At the Cathedral, we offer worship each morning and evening, rooted in a strong Christian community, with a world-class choir. The Cathedral is a centre of performance, visitor engagement, hospitality, volunteering, and learning.
The Cathedral building is a world-class mediaeval gem, towering over the city landscape, inspiring awe, and inviting pilgrims and visitors to joy, consolation, and wonder. Our collections are internationally recognised. We invest in heritage skills and support research, in caring for our buildings and treasures.
At Exeter Cathedral, we invite everyone to discover the worship, welcome, and wellbeing which we offer, and to meet God in this place.
Strategic Goals
Worship
Be a community of engaging worship and prayer, gracious welcome, and transformation
- Work with the Bishop in delivering the diocese’s mission, growing in prayer, making new disciples, and serving the people of Devon with joy
- Welcome the people of our diocese to gather here, and reach out to support them in our joint ministry
- Offer a range of inspiring worship, and nurture our musical and choral tradition
- Grow as a community in depth, diversity, and discipleship
Welcome
Offer an inclusive invitation, to engage with our worship, community, arts, heritage, and events
- Grow our visitor numbers and enhance our visitor offer
- Embed existing partnerships, reach out to others where they are, and continue to engage under-served groups
- Expand our communications and online engagement
- Develop our engagement with children, families, schools, students, and adult learners
Wellbeing
Enable all who engage with our life to flourish within a healthy safeguarding culture
- Pursue a vision of well-being which guides our approach to safeguarding, pastoral care, and human flourishing
- Implement the highest standard of safeguarding practice
- Offer pastoral care of Cathedral congregations, staff, volunteers, and visitors – including those no longer able to attend.
Sustainability
Responsibly develop our people, buildings, treasures, and finances, in support of a sustainable future for the Cathedral and God’s creation
- Pursue a Masterplan for the Cathedral estate, to provide space for mission and ministry, accommodation, hospitality, learning, events, and community
- Invest in heritage skills in caring for, extending access to, and interpreting our buildings and collections
- Broaden opportunities to engage with the Cathedral’s treasures and collections, for visitors, learning, and outreach
- Address the impacts of climate change through strategic partnerships, biodiversity gains, and measures to reduce our carbon footprint
- Nurture relationships with The Friends of Exeter Cathedral, Exeter Cathedral Music Foundation, individual donors, supporters, and funders; diversify our commercial income; and develop financial plans, confident of God’s abundant generosity