Volunteer Team of the Year Runner Up – The Restoration Team at Coventry Cathedral

The Coventry Cathedral restorer volunteers are a quiet force who bring love, care, craftsmanship and commitment to a project that has so far saved the cathedral around a third of a million pounds.

Volunteer Team of the Year Runner Up – The Restoration Team at Coventry Cathedral

The chairs at Coventry Cathedral, cherished since the opening of the New Cathedral in 1962, have begun to show their age. Many are coming apart and in urgent need of repair — hundreds await attention.

The Cathedral Facilities Team enquired about the cost of replacement and were quoted an eye-watering £550 per chair – almost one million pounds in total for 1,800 chairs.

So, when volunteers, Reza and Phil offered their carpentry expertise to the team – led by Andy Shelley – a unique opportunity was born.

In the workshop space underneath the cathedral, the chairs are being taken apart one at a time, carefully repaired and then put back together. Each chair is logged and the repair work noted. When we visited in late July, the count was up to the 774th chair – almost half of the cathedral’s entire collection.

Anna Pitt, Executive Director of the Association of English Cathedrals, said,

‘This is the work of diligent, humble and really gifted volunteers, and working with the facilities team they have found a way to offer their skills and time to make a real difference in the life of the cathedral.

‘The workshop is a really peaceful place where the work of the volunteers is not only respected but applauded by the staff team. There is a real sense of community and purpose here, and it is wonderful to witness,” she added.

Anna was visiting the volunteer team at Coventry with our sponsor Nigel Williams of Newgate Finance who presented them with a special certificate in recognition on their giving there.

The Newgate Volunteer of the Year awards were launched tor the first time this year in recognition of the vital role our volunteers play in the life of our cathedrals.

Said Anna,

‘Coventry Cathedral welcomes thousands of worshippers and visitors each year, and not many of them would know of the dedicated work being put into restoring the chairs on which they sit; but that’s not the motivation for this willing team of volunteers.

‘There is evident joy and purpose in bringing their skills to support a cathedral and community they love; volunteering at its best,’ she added.

The Newgate® Cathedral Volunteer of the Year Awards is a new annual partnership project between the Association of English Cathedrals and Newgate® Motoring Solutions Ltd, a company which specialises in affordable motoring schemes for clergy and those who work or volunteer in our cathedrals. Every cathedral was invited to nominate two volunteers, and we had around 50 nominations from almost 30 cathedrals.The nominated volunteers ranged in age from their twenties to their eighties and together represented almost one hundred years of service, highlighting the value of giving back and the joy of making a difference.

If you’re interested in a volunteering role at one of our cathedrals, do get in touch with your nearest cathedral to find out more. You won’t regret it!