Friends' Events

2026 Events

The Friends of Ely Cathedral at 90 Exhibition

Monday 28 September – Friday 9 October
In the South West Transept

As part of the Friends of Ely Cathedral's 90th Anniversary celebrations, we are delighted to present a special exhibition telling the story of our charity and its support for Ely Cathedral over the past nine decades. The exhibition will showcase photographs, documents, memories and highlights from the history of The Friends since our foundation in 1936. Visitors will have the opportunity to discover how generations of Friends have contributed to the preservation, restoration and enhancement of Ely Cathedral through fundraising, volunteering, grants and practical support. 
Free to attend.

Tours

Join us for some Friends’ tours including a brand-new Friends’ themed tour! 

Monday 30 November, 10.30am – 11.30am
Restoring Glory: Ely Cathedral's Victorian Story 
Step back 150 years and imagine Ely Cathedral right in the middle of an ambitious restoration programme by Dean Peacock and George Gilbert Scott. Together they set in motion what became the most ambitious restoration of any British cathedral attempted at that time – re-imagining the inside, outside and from top to bottom. Their mission? To repair the damage left by the Reformation and peel away the layers that had built up over the centuries, hiding the beauty of the medieval building.

Tickets: £6, available via the Cathedral box office. 

Thursday 19 - Saturday 21 November
Ely Cathedral Christmas Gift & Food Fair 
Find us at the Christmas Fair where we will be selling our Christmas cards and other merchandise. Whether you’re searching for unique Christmas gifts, meeting friends for festive food and drink, or simply enjoying the season, the Fair offers a truly memorable start to Christmas. 
Book Christmas Fair tickets