The Development
Appeal

The first phase of our Development Appeal, also known as ‘The 2020s Development Appeal, raised approximately £12 million to start our ambitious project designed to make sure that Exeter Cathedral is preserved for future generations. Since 2020, we have:

• Improved accessibility throughout the Cathedral with new lifts and WCs
• Built the new Friends’ Cloister Gallery, connecting the Cathedral with its 13th century Chapter House and Pearson Building – the Cloister Gallery is one of the most significant additions to the Cathedral in 500 years!
• Introduced a new sound and light system in the East End of the Cathedral and Chapter House, improving events and services for all
• Installed a new and improved heating system in the East End of the Cathedral, helping to lower our carbon footprint
• Introduced a new interpretation scheme throughout the building to tell our story to people of all ages and backgrounds
• Opened the Treasures Exhibition – a brand new exhibition space showcasing 1,000 years of Cathedral history including key treasures such as the Exeter Book – the oldest book of English literature in the world
• Hosted 123 engagement sessions, attended by over 5,000 people
• Created 376 volunteering opportunities to be involved with the project
• Engaged 183 young people or people from underserved communities in training courses, research projects or other one-off opportunities