Hereford Cathedral

Hereford Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint Ethelbert the King in Hereford, is a Church of England cathedral in Hereford, England. It is the seat of the bishop of Hereford and the principal church of the diocese of Hereford. The cathedral is a grade 1 listed building.

A place of worship has existed on the site of the present building since the 8th century or earlier. The present building was begun in 1079. Substantial parts of the building date from both the Norman and the Gothic periods.

The cathedral has the largest library of chained books in the world, its most famous treasure being the Mappa Mundi, a medieval map of the world created around 1300.

June Events, Activities & Services

DAILY EVENTS

Everyone is welcome to join any of the acts of worship that take place at the cathedral. Services are normally held at the following times:

Monday – Saturday

8 am – Morning Prayer

10.30 am – Eucharist (8.30 am on a Saturday)

5.30 pm – Evening Prayer or Evensong

Sunday

8 am – Holy Communion

10 am – Cathedral Eucharist (this service is also live streamed)

11.30 am – Matins or Morning Prayer

3.30 pm – Evening Prayer or Evensong

 

EXHIBITIONS

Shaping early medieval faith: The Hereford Gospels

Monday 30 March until Saturday 12 September 2026
Discover the inner life of the oldest manuscript at Hereford Cathedral, the Hereford Gospels.

Made circa 800AD, the Hereford Gospels symbolise the continuity of the community at Hereford Cathedral. Shaping Early Medieval Faith explores how the Gospels were created and used through the centuries. It shares the results of new scientific imaging which has revealed secrets hidden within the manuscript’s pages. Alongside the Gospels themselves are some of the oldest texts in the chained library, chosen to show what early medieval Christians might have been listening to or reading.

This exhibition was made possible with Art Fund support and the loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. 

Normal admission charges apply, and tickets can be booked in advance via the cathedral website or ticket desk in person or via the telephone (01432 374 202)

 

TOURS

Cathedral Tours
Monday to Saturday, 11.05 am & 2.15 pm

Explore the rich history and treasures of the cathedral from its Saxon origins to the present day with our knowledgeable guides.

Tickets cost £7.50 (Adult), £6 (Student) and £2 (Child aged 8 - 16) and can be
booked in advance via the cathedral website or ticket desk in person or via the telephone (01432 374 202).

Tower Tours
On selected dates.

Adventurous visitors can climb the 218 steps for some of the finest views of the city and county of Herefordshire, and beyond. Tours may not take place if the weather is poor, and may not be suitable for all visitors so please contact the cathedral office if you are making a special journey to take part.

Tickets cost £10 for adults, £5 for children under 16 and £8 for full-time students and can be booked in advance via the cathedral website or ticket desk in person or via the telephone (01432 374 202).

Garden Tours

Wednesday 3 & 24 June, 2pm

Discover the beauty of the gardens of Hereford Cathedral with a guided tour led by our experienced gardeners and guides. Tours last between 60 and 90 minutes and the gardens are easily accessible, with variations available for visitors with specific mobility requirements.

Tickets cost £7.50 adult, £6.50 student and £2 (Aged 8-16) and can be booked in advance via the cathedral website or ticket desk in person or via the telephone (01432 374 202).

EVENTS

Cathedral Seedlings – Toddlers Group
Thursdays in term time, 10 – 11.30 am
Calling all toddlers and their grown-ups to play and pray in the College Hall. Listen to a Bible story, take part in a craft activity and have fun in our weekly drop-in. To add to the experience, refreshments, delicious cakes and healthy snacks for children will be provided.

Cathedral Seedlings is a group for children from birth upwards, with a range of craft activities aimed at ages 2 plus. Toddler Group is free to attend, and no booking is required.

Escape Room
On selected dates.

Solve our brand-new Escape Room: an immersive clue-cracking and decoding game, hosted in the Old Chapel in the Cloisters. It is Medieval Hereford, and pilgrims have been travelling from all over the country to visit the shrine of St Thomas Cantilupe. Earlier today, a precious golden ring was left at the shrine as an offering. But- when the Shrine Keeper returned from Morning Prayer, they noticed that the ring has been stolen…Can you find the ring, but more importantly, identify the thief before the time runs out?

Tickets cost £70 and can be booked in advance via the cathedral website, in person or by calling the ticket desk (01432 374 202)

Cathedral Biblical Study Group

Monday 1 June, 2.30 pm

Join a welcoming group at the Cathedral Library to dive deep into the Bible, exploring books like Romans, Ephesians, and Galatians.
For more information, contact the Cathedral Library: (01432) 374 225

Lunchtime Organ Concert - Laurence John
Tuesday 2 June, 1.15pm

Join us for our Lunchtime Organ Concert series. This week’s concert is given by Laurence John, St Davids Cathedral. Free with a retiring collection.

Lego Club
Tuesday 2, 16 & 30 June, 3.40 – 5 pm
Test your skills at creating crazy constructions and superstructures with Lego in the inspiring surroundings of Hereford Cathedral. Enjoy this freestyle Lego session in The Rear Nave with thousands of bricks and hundreds of mini-figures. The session will remain a free-play session until 4.45 pm, at which point we’ll come together to explore a Bible story from the Brick Bible and use our bricks to help tell the story. 
This after-school session is free to attend, and booking is not required for this event.

Hereford Gospels - Drop in Embroidery

Wednesday 3 June, 10 am – 12.30 pm

The Hereford Cathedral Broderers have designed beautiful bookmarks inspired by the artwork of the Hereford Gospels. A selection of materials will be on hand and all cathedral visitors are invited to participate. Free with recommended donation. Booking not required.

Bereavement Café

Wednesday 3 June, 2.30 pm – 4 pm

Everyone is welcome to join us for an informal and friendly gathering for those who have been bereaved, recently or long ago. Join us in College Hall on the first Wednesday of the month from 2.30 - 4pm for coffee, cake and conversation. Run by volunteers, this is a welcoming environment to share experiences and support.

Open Gardens
Saturday 6 June, 10 am – 3.30 pm
Discover the beauty and history of Hereford Cathedral’s remarkable gardens on a guided tour with our expert gardeners and knowledgeable guides.
Tickets cost £7. Why not make the day a little more special and add an Afternoon Tea for £13? You can book via cathedral website, in person or by calling the ticket desk (01432 374 202).

Gala Organ Concert – Roger Sayer
Tuesday 9 June, 7 pm
Roger Sayer will be giving a Gala Organ Concert, entitled Interstellar: From Space to Earth, as part of this year’s summer organ recital programme.
Tickets for this concert cost £12 (students £5). You can book via cathedral website, in person or by calling the ticket desk (01432 374 202).

Pub Theology - The Orange Tree
Wednesday 10 June, 7pm

A relaxed and informal monthly gathering in The Orange Tree where over drinks and crisps we’ll chat about issues related to God, faith, life, theology, philosophy and anything else you want to talk about. This is an opportunity to ask questions, hear peoples’ perspectives and chat about things that we might not have the chance to do in a normal church setting. Each session will have a loose focus, but we feel free to go off on tangents. All welcome (18+).

Friends’ Festival 2026
Friday 12 & Saturday 13 June 2026
Formed in 1932 in association with the Dean and Chapter, the Friends of Hereford Cathedral are a body of supporters who are passionate about taking a share in caring for the cathedral and preserving it for posterity. It gives grants to the Dean and Chapter for various projects and activities. To book for Friends’ Festival 2026, please use the general booking form. Email: friends@herefordcathedral.org

Unlocking the Magic of the 48 Preludes and Fugues of J. S. Bach
Friday 12 June, 7 pm
Dean Emeritus, Michael Tavinor, presents ‘Unlocking the Magic of the 48 Preludes and Fugues of J. S. Bach’, illustrating his talk with excerpts played both on the piano and on our famous Father Willis organ, with a large screen erected in the Nave to display hand and footwork.

Fizz and canapes will be served in the Retrochoir after the talk. The cost is £15 per member (£20 guests). Please email friends@herefordcathedral.org to book your place.

Evening Hour

Sunday 14 June, 5.30 pm

All are welcome to join us for this service of Prayer for Healing and Wholeness.

Lunchtime Organ Concert – Sebastian Moreau

Tuesday 16 June, 1.15pm

Join us for our Lunchtime Organ Concert series. This week’s concert is given by Sebastian Moreau, Hereford Cathedral. Free with a retiring collection.

Lunchtime Organ Concert – Anthony Gritten
Tuesday 23 June, 1.15pm

Join us for our Lunchtime Organ Concert series. This week’s concert is given by Anthony Gritten, London. Free with a retiring collection.

How on Earth was Jesus God?
Tuesday 23 June, 7 pm | Ludlow Mascall Centre
In this lecture The Revd Preb Dr Christopher Moore seeks to show how the Apostle Thomas, bare days after he had seen Jesus undergo the torturous execution of the cross, was able to face the risen Christ and exclaim: “My Lord and my God!”. How could a Jew in the first century accept that claim? How could someone who would assert that “the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4) come to believe that Jesus is that same Lord?

Tickets for this cost £12. You can book via cathedral website, in person or by calling the ticket desk (01432 374 202). Please note that this event will take place at the Ludlow Mascall Centre, Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1RZ

Hereford Gospels Online Symposium

Friday 26 June, 10 am – 4 pm | Online
Join a group of experts online to learn more about the life of the Hereford Gospels.

A range of papers will be presented covering multiple aspects of the cathedral’s oldest manuscript, including: how it was produced, who may have written it, how it was used in the past, how the cathedral have cared for it throughout the centuries and how modern technology has helped us learn even more about it.
Free event, but booking is essential. You can book via cathedral website, in person or by calling the ticket desk (01432 374 202)

Lunchtime Organ Concert – Andrew Reid
Tuesday 30 June, 1.15 pm

Join us for our Lunchtime Organ Concert series. This week’s concert is given by Andrew Reid, Hereford Cathedral. Free with a retiring collection.