Manchester Cathedral welcomes today’s announcement by Culture Secretary Sajid Javid of a £225,000 grant being awarded for replacing worn out lead roofing to our South Quire Aisle, Jesus Chapel and Fraser Chapel.
The money comes from the government-sponsored First World War centenary cathedral repairs fund that has been set up to support vital repairs to some of England’s most important historic buildings.
The grant will now enable urgent works to be undertaken to repair the lead roof where inspections have shown it to be failing and for repair work to be carried out on the asphalt roof over the Chapter House, which has been a problem for some time.
The works form part of an on-going ten year programme of progressive, internal and external improvements that the Dean and Chapter have embarked upon under the Manchester Cathedral Development Project. In 2013, the nave, aisles and chapel floors were re-laid renewing and improving failed under-floor heating. In 2016, a new organ will be placed on the rood screen and preparatory work for this will be underway in the first half of 2015, when at the same time it is envisaged that a new east window will be installed.
The Dean of Manchester, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender, said “This is excellent news and we are delighted to now be able to progress with much needed urgent roof repairs, which will ensure that Manchester Cathedral is preserved for future generations. This will allow us to continue in our mission across the city and beyond.”