How is a cathedral different to a large parish church?

There are several ways in which a cathedral is different to a parish church.

  • Governance arrangements
    A parish has a Church Council (PCC) but a cathedral has a Chapter.  This is not merely different terminology, the safeguarding responsibilities of these two groups are different.
     
  • Safeguarding officers
    The responsibilities of a Cathedral Safeguarding Officer (CSO) are different to those of a Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO).  This is because a CSO is often a paid safeguarding professional.
     
  • Leadership
    The safeguarding responsibilities of a Dean are different to those of a parish Incumbent.
     
  • Choir
    The safeguarding requirements for a cathedral choir are significantly more complex than those for a church choir. This is because a cathedral choir may have multiple activities for children.
     
  • Cathedral events
    A cathedral will typically host high-profile events throughout the year.
     
  • School visits
    A cathedral will typically host many visits for groups of school children.
     
  • Tourism
    A significant part of a cathedral’s ministry is the welcoming of thousands of visitors (including children and vulnerable adults).
     

These are some of the reasons why the safeguarding arrangements for cathedrals are not adequately covered by the current parish dashboard.

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