In the month of December alone, Durham Cathedral welcomes over 70,000 people for celebration at one of our special services and events or for quiet contemplation at what, for some, can be a difficult time of year. To maintain this magnificent building so that we can continue to welcome all who come costs £3 a minute.

This year, our friends at Arbor Timber in Langley Moor have helped us to create a special Christmas tree from sustainable wood, which will be situated at the West End of the Cathedral. By making a donation of £3 to our Christmas Wishes appeal, you can leave your very own Christmas wish here on our appeal page. For donations of £10 or more, we'll hang a fully recyclable star decoration (with your wish attached) on to our Christmas Tree in the Cathedral.

Thank you so much for your support. Your wishes will help us to protect this special place for future generations.

Please note: If you plan on visiting the Cathedral from 30 November to Christmas Eve, you can of course donate and add your decoration in person. Christmas wishes left on our Justgiving.com appeal page will be public, with some selected messages shared via the Cathedrals social media channels. You can, however, choose to remain anonymous. The Cathedral has the right to refuse or delete messages which it deems inappropriate. Please note you will not be able to keep your star after the appeal has ended as all decorations will be recycled as part of our sustainable Christmas Tree project.