St. Paul's Cathedral in the United Kingdom may be permanently closed due to insufficient funds

On the 13th local time, the person in charge of the operation and maintenance of St. Paul's Cathedral in the United Kingdom said that due to the impact of the long-term blockade under the epidemic, the conventional funding sources have been basically exhausted, and St. Paul's Cathedral is likely to be permanently closed.

David Eisen, head of St. Paul's Cathedral, said the historic building now "needs a major decision" and that it is facing its worst financial crisis in 300 years.

The daily maintenance of this world-famous London landmark relies almost entirely on revenue from ticket sales. But after the COVID-19 outbreak, revenue from St. Paul's Cathedral fell by 90% in 2020 due to the long closure. So far this year, there has also been a decline in revenue in the same proportion as last year.

In 2020 the cathedral received £3.3 million from the government's £1.57 billion cultural restoration fund, but the annual operating costs of the church will be around £8 million, so there is still a gap. (Reporter Liang Tao)

(Edited by Yang Boyen)