Charging to visit a Church.

alma73

Happened to be in London last year on the saints day of Edward the Confessor. Thought I would go and pray at his tomb. However I would have to pay I think around £20 to enter. Same happened one day when I was passing St. Pauls in London they were also charing to enter. Both locations said I could visit free during certain times of worship. I didn't bother paying to enter either, more for the fact I would not have time to do the tourist tour, but I didn't understand the charge. It would be like having to pay to visit St.Peter or St. Pauls in Rome which would never happen. I mentioned it to a Friend and he said that there is a 6 euro charge to visit ChristChurch in Dublin.

I don't think I have been charged yet to visit a Catholic Church/Cathedral. I know some Cathedrals have a charges to enter a museum, but not for the place of worship.

If the Church is the peoples place of worship (which they paid for) would Anglicans atleast not be allowed free entrance?

Howjoe1

alma73 wrote: »

Happened to be in London last year on the saints day of Edward the Confessor. Thought I would go and pray at his tomb. However I would have to pay I think around £20 to enter. Same happened one day when I was passing St. Pauls in London they were also charing to enter. Both locations said I could visit free during certain times of worship. I didn't bother paying to enter either, more for the fact I would not have time to do the tourist tour, but I didn't understand the charge. It would be like having to pay to visit St.Peter or St. Pauls in Rome which would never happen. I mentioned it to a Friend and he said that there is a 6 euro charge to visit ChristChurch in Dublin.

I don't think I have been charged yet to visit a Catholic Church/Cathedral. I know some Cathedrals have a charges to enter a museum, but not for the place of worship.

If the Church is the peoples place of worship (which they paid for) would Anglicans atleast not be allowed free entrance?

I always get a begging bowl passed around to me.

The_Valeyard

Think it's the same in Christchurch in Dublin.

alma73

Howjoe1 wrote: »

I always get a begging bowl passed around to me.

Yes. I have no problem putting money to support the Church, but £20 to visit.. a little steep, esp when it was the peoples money that built it.

Westminster Cathedral about 5 mins walk from the Abbey has free entrance all day, they do say at the entrance that it costs £5000 a day to run the Cathedral, but there is no tickets or charge to enter. I usually will get something for book store, or make a donation. But the bottom line is that you can visit to pray anytime you want.

Benny_Cake

alma73 wrote: »

I don't think I have been charged yet to visit a Catholic Church/Cathedral. I know some Cathedrals have a charges to enter a museum, but not for the place of worship.

We paid to get into Sagrada Familiar and the Cathedral in Barcelona last summer (both were well worth it!). I know that if you were going to a service there would be no charge and the same goes at Christchurch as far as I know.

These old buildings cost serious money to maintain so I can understand why it might be necessary to charge. For example, Christchurch wouldn't have a huge congregation for a building of its size.

£20 is crazy money though.

alma73

Benny_Cake wrote: »

We paid to get into Sagrada Familiar and the Cathedral in Barcelona last summer (both were well worth it!). I know that if you were going to a service there would be no charge and the same goes at Christchurch as far as I know.

These old buildings cost serious money to maintain so I can understand why it might be necessary to charge. For example, Christchurch wouldn't have a huge congregation for a building of its size.

Yes you are right on the Sagrada Familia, The Cathedral in Barcelona is free, we got in as a family, but they charges to visit the courtyard I think, but the Cathedral itself is free.

The Sagrada Familia is charged (according to them) because its taken them 100 years to build and its still not finished.

Hesh's Umpire

Notre Dame is Paris is free.

Nick Park

A fiver to enter the Santa Maria Novella Church in Florence. I considered it an absolute bargain. A beautiful building.

Manach

The Presbyterians in Edinburough seem to have a good model in place, suggesting donations for a visit to the historic St.Giles or a donation for taking a photograph - I'd always wished to pay my respects to Montrose who is buried there.

smacl

Manach wrote: »

The Presbyterians in Edinburough seem to have a good model in place, suggesting donations for a visit to the historic St.Giles or a donation for taking a photograph - I'd always wished to pay my respects to Montrose who is buried there.

Not religious myself, but I'd always put a few bob in the contribution box visiting an interesting looking church or mosque on holiday, really just out of respect for those maintaining it.

hinault

alma73 wrote: »

Happened to be in London last year on the saints day of Edward the Confessor. Thought I would go and pray at his tomb. However I would have to pay I think around £20 to enter. Same happened one day when I was passing St. Pauls in London they were also charing to enter. Both locations said I could visit free during certain times of worship. I didn't bother paying to enter either, more for the fact I would not have time to do the tourist tour, but I didn't understand the charge. It would be like having to pay to visit St.Peter or St. Pauls in Rome which would never happen. I mentioned it to a Friend and he said that there is a 6 euro charge to visit ChristChurch in Dublin.

I don't think I have been charged yet to visit a Catholic Church/Cathedral. I know some Cathedrals have a charges to enter a museum, but not for the place of worship.

If the Church is the peoples place of worship (which they paid for) would Anglicans atleast not be allowed free entrance?

It is a real pity that churches like St.Pauls and Westminster Abbey are charging admission fees, because the fees dissuade many visitors.
The British impose these fees as a heritage tax. So I expect that the churches there have no choice but to impose those fees. It's a pity because both sites are of great historical value and all visitors to London should be allowed to visit them for free.

You're right about Christchurch too here in Dublin and St.Patricks cathedral.
They're both charging admission fees as well.
Both churches say that they need funds for the upkeep of both sites. I think they're wrong to be charging admission fees however.

I know of no Catholic church here in Ireland which charges an admission fee.
In Rome I know of no Catholic church either where one has to pay and admission fee. Nor Spain. Nor Germany. Even entry to St.Peters Basilica in the Vatican, the seat of Christianity is free.

I could be wrong but the only Catholic church which I think charges an admission fee is perhaps Sacre Coeur in Paris.
I'm open to correction on that.

Cabaal

hinault wrote: »

The British impose these fees as a heritage tax. So I expect that the churches there have no choice but to impose those fees. It's a pity because both sites are of great historical value and all visitors to London should be allowed to visit them for free.

Got any proof to backup the claim that a tax is being imposed on them?

Odds are they are charging to get income to maintain the place, after all its not free to maintain a building.

LordSutch

Suggestion: If you are visiting a Church/Cathedral that charges an entrance fee, then go on a Sunday morning, that way after the service you can have a wander around ...

Sorted.

PS, don't forgret to put a little something on the collection plate.