Government urged to support church restoration

SHREWSBURY Cathedral is to undergo a £750,000 renovation that has been part funded by the Government.

The cathedral, which was built in 1856, was designed by Edward Pugin, son of the famous Catholic architect Augustus.

The restoration, which was approved by the local council this week, comes as a poll commissioned by the National Churches Trust revealed that more than half of British adults think the Government should provide financial support for churches.

Last year Shrewsbury Cathedral was awarded a £280,866 grant by the Government for repairs to the roof.

Further remodelling works have been funded by the diocese and include a new cafe, shop and visitors’ centre, an extended car park and landscaping the garden. Works on the cathedral building will include new steps and a lift.

“We have around 8,000 visitors each year to the cathedral,” explained Canon Jonathan Mitchel. “As it stands, we don’t have any way of offering them hospitality. This work will enable, for the first time, us to offer good facilities and be welcoming to visitors. It’s a very exciting time for the cathedral.”

The new facilities are not, explained Canon Jonathan, intended as a means of income, although he added they hope to break even with the bookshop and cafe, but as a way of “preparing the cathedral for the future”.  

In a survey commissioned by the National Churches Trust, 60 per cent of 2,038 adults polled said the Government should be providing financial support for churches and cathedrals in order to protect their heritage for future generations.

Meanwhile a BBC survey published last week revealed that 26 out of the 38 Anglican cathedrals who responded said they were “worried” or “very worried” about their funds running short within two years.

Three quarters of those running cathedrals agreed that turning their buildings into multiple-use venues, open to non-faith-based and commercial organisations was essential for financial security.