Chapter Update December 2025

Chapter Update December 2025

Chapter’s busy agenda

Risk, finance, staffing and plans for future development were all on the agenda of the latest meeting of Wakefield Cathedral’s Chapter, or Board of Trustees.

Chapter members first of all congratulated Philip Hobday on his appointment as the next Dean of Wakefield. Philip is currently chairing Chapter meetings as Interim Dean, with support from the vice-chair of Chapter, Canon Jane Evans.

A substantial part of the busy agenda was given over to considering the various risks facing the cathedral, and how these can be mitigated or reduced. The chair of the cathedral’s Risk & Audit Committee, Claire Lawton, told Chapter that it was important to embed a new way of thinking about risk, understanding how managing risk fits with our strategic vision and understanding how various elements of risk fit together.

Finance is always high on Chapter’s agenda, and as the year-end approaches, the trustees looked in-depth at our sources of income and where our expenditure goes. Chapter members expressed their concern that the cathedral is facing a deficit of some £168,000 this year, with a similar scenario likely for next year.

“Wakefield is not the only cathedral facing financial difficulties,” explained Philip. “There are some serious conversations taking place with the Church Commissioners to identify what can be done – but in the meantime we are doing all we can to increase our income and manage our costs.”

In reviewing a number of staffing and HR polices, Chapter commended the staff team for their hard work during the difficult circumstances of this past year.

Safeguarding is never far from Chapter’s collective mind, and our safeguarding policies were reviewed and approved.

Finally, there was some consideration of how best to use area to the north-west of the cathedral (the area between the north wall of the Cathedral and the rear of the Westmorland Street properties, including the Treacy Hall).  Chapter approved a licensing agreement with Age UK for them to use the Treacy Hall for community activities which will complement the cathedral’s own outreach work. The trustees also agreed that a feasibility study should be commissioned to review how best to meet the need for additional space – particularly for a safer and more pleasant environment for the choirs, as well as more toilets, storage, and meeting / office space.