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 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