“I always like giving Lichfield, the Cathedral, and the Lichfield Festival a plug to stimulate tourism and business and I was able to do so today in Church Commissioner Questions in the House of Commons” says Michael Fabricant.

“I had tabled a question: ‘To ask the Hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent steps the Church of England has taken to support arts and culture; and if he will make a statement’.”

The Church Commissioner, Andrew Selous MP answered: “The Church Commissioners, alongside the Cathedral Music Trust, supported cathedral choirs in 2020, and funding was also provided to support the heritage skills of stonemasons, glaziers and others. The Culture Recovery Fund provided over £60 million for 580 churches and cathedrals, and a partnership with the Wolfson Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust and the National Churches Trust, has provided grants to pay for the care of historic interiors and collections.”

Michael replied: “I am very grateful for that answer and I praise the Church of England for the initiatives that it is taking.

“My Honourable Friend will know what a beautiful city Lichfield is, and I hope you may find out soon Mr Speaker what a beautiful city it is, but the Cathedral is beautiful too and it’s not only used for worship, it’s also used for the wonderful Lichfield Festival.

“So could I invite my Honourable Friend to come to the Lichfield Festival sometime, and see and hear for himself what goes on in that beautiful cathedral?”

Andrew Selous responded:  “I am very pleased to learn that Lichfield Cathedral is the main venue for the Lichfield Festival, and having seen pictures of the stunning light displays, I would very much like to visit, and also want to pay tribute again to my Honourable Friend for being such a champion of his cathedral, as well as all things Lichfield. I would encourage the members of Parliament for the other 41 cathedrals to follow his example, and champion their cathedrals in the way he does his!”