This situation is about to change at Petertide – the celebration of St Peter over the weekend of 29th June – when the Cathedral flag will once again fly from the mast.

The long absence of flags has been due to building work inside the tower, which meant that scaffolding prevented access to the flag pole.

After Petertide, the flag will then fly for the Feast of St Thomas on 3rd July. Something new happens at the end of that week, when the rainbow flag will be flown for the first ever Peterborough Pride week, held in support of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) people.

The Dean of Peterborough, the Very Revd Chris Dalliston, said:

“It will be wonderful to see the flag flying from the tower – for the first time since I started here as Dean in January – and what better time than for St Peter’s Day in our 900th anniversary year?

It is also a privilege to be able to fly the rainbow flag during Peterborough’s first Pride Week. God’s love extends to all people, whatever their sexuality, and we pray that this week will be an opportunity to demonstrate that inclusiveness and respect for our neighbours.”  

The week-long Pride festival brings together numerous community events, including a Pride Service at St Mary’s Church on 1st July, and a talk entitled “Thank God I’m Gay” by Jayne Ozanne at St John’s Church on 3rd July.

The works inside the Cathedral’s central tower involved installing interior glazing to the windows as a fire prevention measure, and adding safety rails at high level. It was possible to do the work only because of a grant to cover the full cost provided by the government's World War One Centenary Grant Fund.