Check this page for updates on timings and comms for the 2026 Ceremony. Check spam for our automated updates and Keep Warm emails. You can now book graduate guests on the Registration page. Don't forget to "check-in" to confirm you are attending via admin@appgradkandm.org.
News & Graduation Day Updates
General Timings & Cathedral Information for 2026
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Note Graduands arriving for gowning can do so from 9:35am at the earliest. You are kindly asked not to bring family and friends into the Cathedral at this time due to the gowning process being quite busy and space being limited. If weather is poor we may adapt this policy.
Guests can arrive from 11:30am via the North or Great West door (facing Rochester Castle) options. Disabled access is via the North Door only. See Cathedral diagram.
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Provisional Summary Timings:
9:35-11:15am - Gown collections (you may wear gowns into town and grounds)
1:45-2:45pm - Gown Return You will be charged £50 for late returns
11:25-11:45 - Graduates to be seated (make sure you are in the Cathedral to be seated. The programme is numbered and the seats will be in numbered blocks so make sure you sit in the allocated seating in the North and South transepts. Graduates must return to be seated by 11:30am.
11:30am - Graduate guests to enter Cathedral and take seating in the Nave via the Great West Door or North Door. Note those with mobility issues should use the North Door which faces the High Street. Ensure they have a copy of the email ticket we have sent you. This includes those with approved extra guests.
12:00 - Ceremony Commences
1:35pm - Graduate Class of 2026 Photo
1:45pm - Ceremony Closes
To assist graduands and guests with directions please use this diagram as a reference. The North Transept is the door facing Rochester high street and can be accessed from the high street through a small memorial garden, some alley points and from College Yard. It can also be accessed via a service path before you reach the Great West Doors.
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If graduands or guests have access or other issues that might impact on their enjoyment of the event please contact us using the contact form. There are accessible toilets from the Nave area inside the Cathedral, but disabled access toilets are only on the south side of the Nave.
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We recommend you do not bring small children. If they do attend and become upset their carers will need to leave the Cathedral with them to avoid disrupting the enjoyment of others.
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Getting to the Cathedral
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Note there is no parking at the Cathedral. There are several local carparks nearby and Rochester Train Station is a ten minute walk away. Blue badge parking is available near the Yarrow pub which is close to the Great West Doors. However, wheelchair access is only possible via the North Door.
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For up to date information and advice on getting to the Cathedral we recommend you visit the Cathedral's site page at: www.rochestercathedral.org/getting-here
