Cathedral charities are being urged by Charity Commission chair Mark Simms to ensure they are not being “swayed beyond the limits” of their mission.

During a speech at Liverpool Cathedral he praised the work of friends of cathedral charities for contributing to the care and maintenance of the UK’s cathedrals, and for cathedral charities for promoting Christianity.

But he warned charities associated with cathedrals of the need to ensure they make their own decisions in line with their mission.

“I’d encourage you to have a clear grip on your purposes, and what they mean in the context of your charity,” he told cathedral charity trustees.

“Ensure you make decisions with these purposes in mind, and do not allow yourselves to be swayed beyond the limits of your mission.”

He added: “This does not preclude a Friends of Cathedral charity from working in close and friendly cooperation with the management of the cathedral itself – and as mentioned, that cooperation is in some cases required.

“But you should not allow decision making about how the charity spends its funds to be taken out of your hands.

“Trusteeship involves a kind of courage – a courage that is to be wielded on behalf of your charity, no one and nothing else.”

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