News: Work starts to weatherproof Cathedral

Following the announcement in March of the award of £500,000 towards the external repairs of Guildford Cathedral, work has now officially commenced.

A grant was awarded as part of the Government’s World War One Centenary Cathedrals' Repair Fund to reroof and repair the tower and transepts of the Cathedral. On 7 September the task of erecting scaffolding on the outside of the building commenced, beginning a six month process of improving the Cathedral’s resistance to water ingress.

The Director of Operations, Matt O’Grady, said:

We are very excited to be getting this project underway. It goes hand in hand with the People’s Cathedral Project (funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund) to make repairs and other improvements, as well as enhancing the Cathedral’s ability to engage with the wider community.

The net result of these projects will be that Guildford Cathedral will be able to continue as a hub of spirituality and a place of welcome, worship, inspiration and engagement for many generations to come.

Work will continue until early March 2016, by which time the internal repairs planned as part of the HLF funded project will be well underway. Guildford Cathedral will remain open during this time, and there is now also a marquee in the grounds to provide additional flexibility throughout the operation.   

For further information on the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund award please contact: Helen Ellis, People’s Cathedral Project Manager at helen@guildford-cathedral.org or 01483 547888.

Added Thursday 10th September 2015