WORCESTER Cathedral has been awarded almost £250,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards urgent repairs.
The £249,956 grant will help boost the cathedral’s landmark project ‘Reaching New Heights’ – dedicated to the urgent repair and conservation of its northwest pinnacles.
The project aims to repair and rebuild two pinnacles of the cathedral tower, replacing temporary protection with a long-term solution.
In November 2021, Storm Arwen’s 100mph winds caused the fall of a northeast pinnacle, reminding the community that the cathedral must be actively preserved.
Surveying undertaken identified that the northwest pinnacles were constructed in the same way as those on the northeast side. They were secured with temporary steel brackets but are in urgent need of rebuilding to prevent further damage and ensure the safety and integrity of the cathedral.
The project will combine traditional craftsmanship with modern engineering, using Red Hollington stone and integrated steelwork, and will be delivered by the cathedral’s experienced in-house team, supported by specialist consultants and volunteers.
The cathedral will also deliver a programme of community engagement to run alongside the project, including visitor exhibitions, and educational activities for schools and families and a heritage skills and careers fair in October, in partnership with West Midlands Heritage Trust.
Worcester Cathedral welcomes over 192,000 visitors annually and is supported by 190 volunteers. This project will expand learning opportunities, increase inclusion and access, and promote environmental sustainability by adapting the pinnacles to withstand future storms and protecting the cathedral’s resident peregrine falcons.
The Very Revd Dr Stephen Edwards, Dean of Worcester, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The rebuilding of the tower pinnacle is not simply a matter of structural repair; it is an investment in the cultural, spiritual and communal life of Worcester and the wider region.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, vital restoration work and community outreach will ensure a brighter future for Worcester Cathedral.”
Work is scheduled to begin imminently and will continue through to March 2027, with engagement activities running alongside the conservation programme.
The project, which will cost nearly £400,000, has been made possible through this generous funding and a combination of cash contributions, and non-cash support such as in-kind donations from Autodesk Foundation. Additional match funding is being sought from trusts and foundations.
This content is sourced from worcesterobserver.co.uk and is shared for informational purposes only.
