The People's Cathedral: Project Overview
In 2012, Guildford Cathedral began a unique journey to secure funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to transform a unique site of modern heritage and secure the long term future of an iconic Grade II* listed building.
“The People’s Cathedral Project”, a term coined in response to the 200,000 ordinary people who ‘bought a brick’ to pay for the completion of Guildford Cathedral, is an ambitious 30 month initiative combining urgent building repairs with an exciting community engagement programme to capture and reveal the rich heritage and history behind this stunning 20th century building. Specifically our project aims to:-
- Secure Guildford Cathedral’s Survival through the removal of asbestos from the concrete ceiling vaults.
- Enrich the Visitor Experience by improving facilities, accessibility, audibility and interpretation.
- Widen and Deepen Community Engagement with the Cathedral and encourage a new generation to become involved, through:
a) Capturing the story of the “The People's Cathedral” through the memories of individuals and bringing to life the rich history of the Cathedral.
b) Improving and enhancing the range of learning opportunities available for children and adults.
c) Expanding the portfolio of volunteering opportunities enabling individuals to feel embedded in the life of the Cathedral.
The Cathedral’s application to HLF was only made possible by the generosity of people and organisations from across Surrey and beyond. Their contribution through the Cathedral Appeal, including the MAKE YOUR MARK campaign, enabled the Cathedral to secure the £1.3m partnership funding necessary to submit the application.
In August 2017 the People's Cathedral Project was completed. The information on these webpages are for reference and interest only.
