The landmark Episcopal church struggled to raise $11 million towards an estimated $34 million in needed earthquake repairs. An expensive underground parking facility and hefty costs for the operation and maintenance of the Cathedral campus have also stressed the church's finances, which rely disproportionately on outside gifts and grants. During Hall's tenure, the cathedral began charging an admission fee for visitors and announced it was available to rent for corporate events.

According to statistics from the Episcopal Church Office of Research, average Sunday attendance at the Cathedral dropped from more than 1,800 persons in 2005 to less than 1,400 in 2013, the most recent reporting year. The cathedral's annual budget has dropped from $27 million in 2009 to $12.9 million today.

Institute on Religion and Democracy’s Anglican Program Director Jeff Walton commented:

"Despite assuming leadership of the cathedral after the 2011 Virginia earthquake, Hall seems to have been unaware of the scope of fundraising and budgetary challenges that he would necessarily confront. Instead, the cathedral dean delighted in inserting the church into any national news story he could find, from gun control to the Confederate flag.



"As he blamed cathedral struggles on a general disinterest in organized religion, Hall seemed unaware of thriving new evangelical and immigrant congregations populating Washington, DC's religious landscape.



"Cathedral programs, such as contemplative labyrinth walks accompanied by Native American flute music, seemed exclusively targeted at aging white liberals, the declining demographic which populates old-line Protestantism.


"Changes to allow gay weddings at the cathedral, as well as host the first transgender preacher there, kept the National Cathedral in the news, but also limited its appeal."

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'I Still Can't Believe What God Did!' 550 Baptized in Freezing Waters of England

Christian Mom Fights Homeschool Battle: 'Government Cannot Exclude Religious People' (Video)

Facts Don't Lie: Republicans Dominate 5 Financially Healthiest State Governments, Democrats Run the 5 Worst

Social Security to Grant 3.6% Cost-of-Living Boost

491 Fugitives—'Dangerous Drug Traffickers, Rapists, and Sex Offenders'—Hiding in Public Housing Arrested in Nationwide Sweep

What We Know About the Omar Raid and the Allegations Behind It

President Trump Says Pentagon Won't Livestream Execution of Fort Hood Shooter

Virginia, Colorado Suspend Medicaid Coverage of Trans Procedures for Minors after Federal Rule Takes Effect

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Says God's at Center of Team Culture: 'That's Who I Am' (Video)

Pope Leo Diagnosed with Cancer Following Surgery to Remove a Third of His Right Lung

Victor Davis Hanson: Genocide Hypocrites

FBI Arrests OpenAI Engineer Over a Hidden Listening Device

Andy Ngo Warns of 'The Zizians' Death Cult in New Book (Video)

High School Girls Walk Off Cross Country Race Instead of Competing against a Male Athlete

Number of Teen Girls Identifying as LGBT Plummets Suddenly

Ex-Muslim, Violently Attacked for Following Jesus, Urges Christians to Share the Gospel

In France and Britain, Multiculturalism Is Leading to Authoritarianism

Southern Baptist President Urges Christians to Engage in Midterms, Warns Communism and Political Islam Threaten America (Video)

Islamic Non-Profits Could Be Investigated for Terror Ties, Abuse of Taxpayer-Funded Grants

Paid Anti-ICE Activists Target Hotels, Home Depot in Disruption Campaign