Lincoln, Carlisle and Ripon cathedrals have just announced they have received cash boosts from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
Good News! Lincoln, Ripon and Carlisle cathedrals in cash boosts from the Government
Lincoln has received a Capital Kickstart Fund award of £973,600 which will be used to complete the conversion of the Old Deanery into a new visitor centre, conserve internationally important sculpture on the Cathedral and improve the visitor experience and setting of the Cathedral, which has been delayed as a result of the pandemic.
Carlisle Cathedral has received £250,000 for its ongoing major project– a welcome boost to continue work which had been put on hold due to the pandemic. This cash boost comes on the back of its Fratry Project which has seen a complete transformation of the Grade I-listed medieval Fratry into an open space for performance, education and events including the creation of a new welcome area and public café – providing dedicated space for the clergy to greet visitors and school groups, and allowing the cathedral to engage with more people in new ways and transform its teaching and learning activities.
Ripon Cathedral has been granted almost £24,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund to repair the nave roof and stop water seeping through its beautiful panelled ceiling.
These are some of the latest grants, awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and builds on over £1 billion awarded to a huge range of cultural and heritage organisations from the Culture Recovery Fund last year.
Twenty two heritage organisations, including our cathedrals, will benefit from £13.5 million in targeted grants allocated by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to restart planned work that has been delayed or faces increased costs due to the pandemic.
Will Harrison, Chapter Clerk and Administrator at Lincoln Cathedral said:
“The creation of the Old Deanery Visitor Centre, and the vital conservation work on the West Front of the Cathedral is a once-in-a-lifetime project, and has been a major focus of our attentions for the last five years. Hospitality and welcome are at the heart of Cathedral life and we look forward to the day when we can safely welcome back visitors from across Lincoln, the county and beyond.
“We’re incredibly grateful for this grant, which will ensure that we can conserve the fabric of the Cathedral and, importantly, create a fantastic new accessible and engaging space which can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“From restoring Georgian lidos and Roman baths to saving local screens and synagogues, our Culture Recovery Fund is helping to save the places people can’t wait to get back to, when it is safe to do so.
“All over the country, this funding is protecting the venues that have shaped our history and make us proud of our communities, whilst safeguarding the livelihoods of the people that work in them.”
Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“These are all ongoing major refurbishment and restoration projects, funded by us, which have been threatened by the pandemic. From the oldest surviving outdoor swimming baths to a Victorian pier, and from a much-loved park to an historic abbey, these are all places that will enrich hundreds of lives when they reopen. We are delighted this extra funding from the Culture Recovery Fund will ensure that these exciting projects will go ahead.”
The National Lottery Heritage Fund, along with the BFI, Historic England and Arts Council England, are currently assessing applications for the remaining £400 million in funding from the Culture Recovery Fund, which was held back to allow the Government to support organisations through the Spring and Summer.
