St Paul's Cathedral in London attracted 1.7m visitors last year

English Heritage surveyed the country's 42 Anglican cathedrals and found they employed 12,000 volunteers and 5,500 paid workers, spending �25.9m on wages.

Repairs and maintenance of the buildings cost a further �11m per year - mostly raised from public donations.

English Heritage said the buildings contributed hugely to the economic and social lives of their communities.

Dr Simon Thurley, the body's chief executive, said the cathedrals were "at the very heart" of England's heritage.

"Their contribution reaches far beyond bricks and mortar. In an increasingly complex world, these great edifices are vital forces of social cohesion and focal points for both celebration and mourning," he said.

Congregations

English Heritage commissioned the study jointly with the Association of English Cathedrals.

In addition to a postal survey of all 42 buildings, eight cathedrals were selected for detailed case studies.

It is our work with schools, their teachers and children, that has developed Peter Marshall Dean of Worcester

According to the findings, congregations were on the rise and cathedrals hosting increasing numbers of special events, such as concerts, plays and lectures.

Over 300,000 schoolchildren visited cathedrals during 2003 on organised tours.

The Dean of Worcester, Peter Marshall, said he was "very encouraged" by the report's findings.

"Primarily the cathedral is a place of worship, but that enables us to become involved in other things," he said.

"It is our work with schools, their teachers and children, that has developed in ways that we know to be most important and enjoyable, for which we need to find further resources."

Budget cut?

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which funds English Heritage, says their grant will rise from �121m to �125m next year.

But the organisation says this is actually a cut of �13m when inflation and other factors are taken into consideration.

The study, entitled The Economic and Social Impact of Cathedrals in England, was compiled between February and June this year.