Cathedral facing financial strain raises £100,000

The Very Reverend Chris Dalliston said everyone has bene "touched" by the donations

A city cathedral that faces financial challenges has raised about £100,000 after making a public appeal for help.

Peterborough Cathedral launched an urgent fundraiser earlier this month, saying it needed to raise £300,000 by the end of March to remain open seven days a week.

On Friday, the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, the Very Reverend Chris Dalliston, said the church was "enormously encouraged by the beginning of our campaign" but added "there is still a long way to go".

The historic venue is currently hosting its "biggest ever" festival to honour Katharine of Aragon, the Queen of England, who was the first of Henry VIII's six wives.

Toni Morgan-Ray called it an "honour" to be part of the Katharine of Aragon Festival

The annual celebration began on Wednesday to commemorate Katharine, who was buried at the church on 29 January 1536, with a wreath laying ceremony at Katharine's tomb.

The festival is hosting events such as embroidery workshops and tours around the tombs of Katharine of Aragon and Mary Queen of Scots with guides in Tudor dress and an immersive Tudor banquet.

Toni Morgan-Ray, who was works at the cathedral, was dressed as Katharine to mark the festival and described the former queen as "phenomenal".

"She was the most amazing woman and ahead of her time," she said.

"I didn't expect the attention to be the great. It's amazing and an honour.

"It took 45 minutes to get dressed and I am not able to move or bend. But it's a privilege."

The Katharine of Aragon Festival will be held until 29 January

Dean Dalliston said: "We are enormously encouraged by the beginning of our campaign. We are nearly at £100,000 but we still have a long way to go.

"We hope we very much continue and reach our target.

"We are here celebrating Aragon here at the cathedral, which is her last resting place.

"It is a pivotal moment in our history. We are custodians of that great heritage and so much more and we do value the support we can get.

"We wish to remain open all the time. We wish this place to be available to all.

"Every gift we get, enables us to remain a place of free access."