Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Issue No. 91

Page 12

The care of cathedrals is something we should all care about [

THE MOST IMPORTANT COLLECTION of religious buildings in the UK are its many and varied cathedrals. As would be expected, the Anglican church has the largest number, with 42 cathedrals serving dioceses across England – plus one in Gibraltar – while the Roman Catholic Church has some 30 cathedrals across Great Britain. The Episcopal Church in Scotland has its own cathedrals while the Church of Scotland’s ‘High Kirks’ – some nine in all – are often referred to as cathedrals and include such notable buildings as St Giles’s in Edinburgh and St Mungo’s in Glasgow. There are also five Orthodox cathedrals in the UK. Among the 42 Anglican cathedrals, no fewer than 39 are Grade One listed. Their upkeep and maintenance is overseen by the Cathedrals Fabric Commission, whose powers and duties are set out in the Care of Cathedrals Measure 2011. They produce comprehensive guidance on the steps that dioceses can take to ensure their treasured possession is cared for and can be enjoyed both as a heritage building and as a place of worship by all. In its User’s Guide to the Care of Cathedrals Measure, the Cathedrals Fabric Commission says: “In addition to their beauty and architectural significance, cathedrals generate more than £220m for the national economy, employ more than 7,000 people

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and benefit from the contribution of nearly 15,000 volunteers. “They welcome more than 11 million adults (27% of the UK population) and more than 300,000 schoolchildren each year. And cathedrals do all of this while remaining in use for their original and central purpose: the worship of God. “The care and maintenance required to York Minster safeguard the existing fabric and contents of our cathedrals pose complex and everchanging challenges, and if cathedrals are to reach out to new audiences and serve the needs of each new generation they must also continue to develop.” The Commission’s advice pages, which can be found on the Church Care section of the Church of England website at www.churchofengland.org, cover a multitude of subjects, ranging from conservation measures and applying for grants to do works to furnishings, lighting and sound equipment, visitor engagement and accessibility. In this special feature we look at some projects carried out in our cathedrals by specialist craftspeople and suppliers as part of the seemingly Sisyphean task of maintaining our cathedrals and the facilities in them. A description of one of the most evident developments in cathedrals over recent centuries – the introduction of artificial light – provides our cover story and features on the preceding pages. q


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Articles inside

Shedding some light on the new Part L Building Regulations

4min
page 48

Steel windows – protecting our architectural heritage

3min
page 49

Leading brick maker reiterates its sustainability goals

4min
page 47

Summertime…and the lightning is striking!

4min
pages 45-46

Parishioners’ kindness alleviates COVID restrictions

3min
page 44

Mastic asphalt: it’s versatile and green, and can be applied to roofs or floors

1min
page 43

Reroofing project posed a slippery problem for NT’s bats

3min
page 42

Get the roofing training that’s specific to your needs

2min
page 38

Locally-made tiles allow a jewel of the Jewellery Quarter to shine again

3min
pages 40-41

Rise in thefts prompts insurer to reissue guidance

1min
page 39

Get the expert’s view on streaming

3min
page 35

How to modernise heritage sites and remain compliant

5min
pages 36-37

Spending a legacy on a sound system – what to upgrade?

4min
page 34

Heating specialist notches up a half century

2min
page 26

Exterior lighting scheme is latest in a long line of special projects

4min
page 23

Co-ordination allows numerous repairs to be carried out at once

3min
pages 27-28

Thinking of an AV installation? Here’s some advice...

3min
page 32

Church regains control after obsolete lighting is replaced

1min
page 24

AV’s institute meets again to mark anniversary

2min
page 31

Easter message is brought to life virtually by C of E

2min
page 33

With historic lighting, you can replace or you can repurpose

3min
pages 21-22

And there was light: but carefully controlled

2min
page 20

St George’s tames the dragon of poor sound

3min
page 13

Roofing specialists help keep Durham’s jewel in good order

3min
page 16

Kentec’s new K-Mesh wireless technology wins praise for Chester Cathedral project

3min
page 17

Cathedrals must offer a welcome to

2min
page 18

Audit sheds light on improving access to cultural heritage sites

2min
page 19

Integration of ancient and modern is the aspiration

1min
page 14

The care of cathedrals is something we should all care about

2min
page 12
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