
Photo Credit: Adrian Pingstone
ChurchCare, the buildings division of the Church of England, welcomed the announcement today by Culture Secretary Sajid Javid of £8.3 million in grants for 31 English cathedrals. The money has come from a government-sponsored fund set up to support vital repairs to some of England's most important historic buildings.
Mr Javid announced that the grants will provide 25 Church of England and six Catholic cathedrals with grants worth between £15k and £600k for repairs ranging from roofs, stonework and structural work through to detailed work on intricate stained glass windows.
The successful applicants will receive £8.3 million of money made available as part of the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund. This is the second round of grants from the £20 million Fund, which was announced in the Chancellor's March budget. The third round with £7 million to award will close on 21 January 2015 and all projects awarded money will be complete by March 2016.
The Bishop of Worcester, Rt Revd Dr John Inge, lead bishop for Cathedrals and Church Buildings said:
Cathedrals are a success story, not just for the Church but for the cities where they are located and the millions of people who enjoy their architectural splendour, magnificent music and open welcome each year. It is entirely appropriate that the government has recognised that in supporting cathedrals, they are also supporting local communities across England. The outcome of these grants will have echoes far beyond mere building works. It is an investment in beautiful places which in turn support and encourage the people amongst whom they minister, making a significant contribution to human flourishing in each of our cathedral cities and beyond."
Sir Paul Ruddock, Chair of the Expert Panel, First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund and Chairman of the Victoria & Albert Museum, said:
"The appeal of cathedrals is vast and enduring. Every part of English history can be seen somewhere within their walls, and I am delighted that this second round of grants is providing vital support to keep them open for all to enjoy."
Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Chairman, Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, said:
"As moving commemorations of the First World War continue to be held across England, it is a most excellent thing to see taxpayer's money being used to create a lasting legacy of cathedral grants which takes the pressure off building repairs and allows cathedrals to be the centres of remembrance and worship that people rely on them to be. There is always more to be done, but through this scheme government has begun a very vital task."
Cathedrals are a key part of forming the cultural identity of many of England's cities, and are powerful symbols of our shared history. But this does not mean they are just icons of the past. They are active and powerful community hubs. In several cities they are at the centre of urban regeneration, providing a focus for civic pride. This includes many cathedrals supported by this round of grant, such as Peterborough and Blackburn, which are both creating vibrant new cathedral quarters.
The Church of England's 42 cathedrals alone welcome over 11m visitors a year, employ over 6,000 staff and are supported by over 15,000 dedicated volunteers; demonstrating how much cathedrals contribute to, but also depend upon, the communities around them. Church of England cathedrals contribute annually at least £350 million for the national economy. These grants will help them to complete works which are urgently needed for them to stay safe, open and welcoming, and to continue to make this contribution to their communities.
Notes:
ChurchCare, the Cathedral and Church Buildings Division, is the Church of England's national resource, supporting the conservation and development of the Church of England's 16,000 parish churches and 42 cathedrals for worship, mission and community engagement. Details about the work of ChurchCare can be found at:
http://www.churchcare.co.uk/
Full list of recipients below:
Cathedral
|
Denomination
|
Project
|
Grant awarded
|
Arundel
|
RC
|
Repairs to south side windows
|
£200,000
|
Birmingham St Chads
|
RC
|
High level repairs
|
£227,000
|
Blackburn Cathedral
|
CofE
|
High level repairs
|
£314,251
|
Bradford
|
CofE
|
Repairs to State Gate
|
£349,479
|
Bristol
|
CofE
|
Replacement boilers
|
£184,000
|
Canterbury
|
CofE
|
Repairs to north west transept
|
£150,000
|
Chelmsford
|
CofE
|
Repairs to tower
|
£268,622
|
Chester
|
CofE
|
High level works and emergency lighting
|
£300,000
|
Chichester
|
CofE
|
Replacing roof to south-east transept
|
£100,000
|
Clifton (Bristol)
|
RC
|
Roof repairs
|
£600,000
|
Coventry
|
CofE
|
Repairs to Crypts
|
£216,265
|
Ely
|
CofE
|
Repairs to south transept
|
£392,060
|
Exeter
|
CofE
|
Repairs to Chapel of St Andrew & St Catherine
|
£277,547
|
Hereford
|
CofE
|
Repairs to roofs
|
£300,000
|
Lancaster RC
|
RC
|
Replacement electrical distribution board
|
£15,000
|
Lincoln
|
CofE
|
Repairs to NW transept triforium roof
|
£300,000
|
Liverpool Anglican
|
CofE
|
Repairs to Lady Chapel and nave roof
|
£275,000
|
Manchester
|
CofE
|
Roof replacement/reinstatement
|
£225,000
|
Newcastle
|
CofE
|
Repairs to library roof
|
£155,572
|
Norwich
|
CofE
|
Works to north clerestory & presbytery
|
£491,000
|
Peterborough
|
CofE
|
Repairs to Old Baptistry gable
|
£88,433
|
Portsmouth
|
CofE
|
Repairs to tower and south transept
|
£594,783
|
Rochester
|
CofE
|
Repairs to roof
|
£153,000
|
Ripon
|
CofE
|
Repairs to north transept and east elevation
|
£354,617
|
Sheffield St Marie
|
RC
|
Repairs to spire
|
£270,528
|
Southwark RC (St Georges)
|
RC
|
Repairs to parapets
|
£167,000
|
Truro
|
CofE
|
Repairs to nave and nave aisle roof
|
£500,000
|
Wakefield
|
CofE
|
Repairs to lead roof of quire and nave
|
£220,000
|
Wells
|
CofE
|
Repairs to north nave aisle roof
|
£160,000
|
Worcester
|
CofE
|
Repairs to east window
|
£250,316
|
York Minster
|
CofE
|
Repairs to Camera Cantorum stonework and roof
|
£200,000
|
Statistics for Round Two
TOTAL to cathedrals £8,299,473
TOTAL successful applications: 31 (out of 37)
TOTAL to Catholic Cathedrals: £1,479,528
TOTAL to Anglican Cathedrals £6,819,945
Out of the total £20million, £13m has been spent across two rounds,
leaving £7m for the third round in January/February 2015.