Canterbury Cathedral chiefs say they have no regrets about turning down the opportunity to appear in the Harry Potter movies – despite missing out on potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds.
And that despite the fact it has launched a global appeal for £50million it says the cathedral desperately needs for vital repairs and renovation work.
Kent will, like the rest of the country, be gripped by Potter mania this weekend as the final eagerly anticipated book in the series – the Deathly Hallows - hits the shelves.
Meanwhile the latest movie, the Order of the Phoenix, continues to do big business in the cinema.
Canterbury Cathedral was initially approached seven years ago to provide some of the locations for the first film – the Philosopher’s Stone.
Movie makers wanted the famous venue to shoot scenes at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – where Harry and his chums first meet and start their adventures.
But cathedral chiefs turned the offer down amid fears it could upset some Anglicans.
Had they agreed, the venue is likely to have been used in all five of the films so far made – and the final two which go into production over the next 24 months.
Instead, film studios opted instead for Durham Cathedral and Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.
Sources suggest the cathedral could have received £50,000 for EACH film. That would equate to £250,000 so far – not to mention a further boom in visitor numbers to one of the county’s top tourist attractions and associated donations.
But despite missing out on the movie magic, cathedral chiefs say they remain convinced they made the right decision.
Spokesman Christopher Robinson told the Saturday Observer: “With more than a million people coming to Canterbury Cathedral each year, any filming is very disruptive; and the potential benefits have to be carefully considered against the great difficulties that any filming will cause.
“Taking this into account, as well as the known views of some Anglicans – to whom we have to be sensitive because Canterbury Cathedral is the Mother Church of all Anglicans - the decision taken some years ago was correct.
“Of course, we do have a major appeal running and we welcome all contributions to that appeal to help use preserve the cathedral for generations to come.”
POSTED: 21/07/2007 08:00:00
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