Friends' ship
Sir: I read with interest P. D. James' description of her visit to Ely Cathedral (Diary, 24 June), and applaud her cour- teous and gentle reaction to our necessity to charge visitors for admission apart from Sundays and outside service times. In 1985, which was the last year of admission by voluntary donation, the average gift was 32 pence. In that year it cost 44 pence per visitor just to keep the Cathedral open.
She asks very reasonably what happens to people from the diocese who want to visit and pray in their Mother Church? In fact, all wishing to say their prayers have free access at all times to St Catherine's Chapel and this facility is clearly adver- tised. As regards those who wish to visit the whole building, if they are residents of Ely, they have a free pass for the asking. If they live further afield they are encouraged to become Friends, and for a modest annual subscription of £5 they have the satisfaction of knowing they are helping to keep their 'Ship of the Fens' afloat, and of course their Friends' membership card enables them to visit their cathedral free of charge.
I am glad to say that this Mother Church is surrounded by much love and affection. In just one year we raised £4 million for its essential repairs, and of this vast sum two thirds was given from within this largely rural diocese. East Anglian patriotism is alive and well!
William Paterson
Dean, Charter House, The College, Ely, Cambridgeshire
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