National Cathedral Cuts Jobs, Programs

From the Washington Post. More bad news for the Natioanl Cathedral.

Just six months after its last round of cuts, the century-old institution plans to shut down a historic building on its grounds, cut back on choir performances, shrink its lecture and class schedule, outsource its retail operation and rely on volunteers to take over other functions, the Rev. Samuel Lloyd III, dean of the Episcopal cathedral, said in an interview yesterday.

"This is a very difficult time and it breaks my heart what we're doing with our staff," Lloyd said.

The stone cathedral, whose Gothic towers loom over Northwest Washington, attracted 435,500 visitors last year. It serves as the cathedral for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and as a symbolic gathering place for the nation. Three presidential funerals have been held there.

Cathedral leaders said that worshipers at the five Sunday services probably will notice only subtle changes -- fewer altar flowers, thinner worship folders. The thousands of tourists who stream through each day will see few signs of the cuts.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/11/19/ST2008111900926.html