Work on a range of Canterbury Gift projects is progressing well. Very soon, the scaffolding will come down from the south side of the Corona. A ‘topping out’ ceremony in October will see the beautiful new stonework and carving officially revealed, including all the areas so well supported by our Sponsor a Stone scheme. To date, this fundraiser has brought in £80,000, including more than £7,000 in response to our June 2009 newsletter alone. Thank you to all those who sponsored a stone this summer.
The Cathedral’s masons will continue to work on the South East Transept throughout the Autumn. This is the next focus area for our Sponsor a Stone scheme – a further opportunity to get involved is enclosed with this newsletter. Work is also now well underway on the project match funded by The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral and The Wolfson Foundation to repair the roof of the Howley Library. Planning with architects and archaeologists for the landscaping of the south side of the Precincts, new visitor reception facilities and work on the Christ Church Gate continues.
A considerable new task – the Great South Window
However, since we last wrote, a new project which may prove to be a very considerable task has been added to the conservation programme – the window of the South West Transept. This Great South Window, one of the largest in the Cathedral and dating from the early 15th Century, was repaired during the 1970s. Many will remember the stonework at the apex of the Transept being replaced. A number of new heads and pinnacles were carved at the same time and the glass was cleaned and ‘double-glazed’.
At the beginning of July, a piece of masonry from one of the stone mullions fell out, alerting the Cathedral to a major problem. On close inspection, stone from at least one other mullion was found to be in danger of failing. The possible cause is that the expansion and contraction of the metal transom bars in the very hot spells of weather in recent summers, and particularly in late June this year, has split some of the stonework, affecting the overall strength of the window.
The first priority was the safety of visitors and staff, and so the South West Transept was immediately closed off inside and out, and protective scaffolding put up to catch any further falls of stone. Scaffolding has now been erected both inside and outside the window. The two sections have been braced through the window openings to support the stone tracery. All the stained glass, some of the earliest – and finest – in the Cathedral, including some of the 12th Century series of the ancestors of Christ, will be carefully taken out and safely stored.
The scale of the challenge, and exactly what needs to be done, will become much clearer during September and October. The duration and cost of this new and unbudgeted project cannot yet be estimated and some other tasks, such as the conservation of the north side of the Corona, will have to wait until our team of masons have completed this urgent and very necessary work.
Forthcoming events
On Tuesday, September 22, Canterbury Gift supporters will gather for a special event at the Cathedral Lodge to hear John Burton, the Cathedral’s Surveyor to the Fabric talk about the current work at Canterbury. The event is sold out.
There are, however, still a few tables available for another exciting event in late 2009 celebrating England’s Ashes victory and supporting The Canterbury Gift. On Thursday, November 26, former England cricketers Graham Gooch, Derek Underwood and Chris Cowdrey will be the guests of honour at a prestigious dinner and auction in The Long Room at Lord’s. For more details contact the Appeal office on 01227 865346.
Next April, a concert of the gospel music of Elvis Presley will be held in the Cathedral Nave. Details about the event and how to buy tickets can be found at www.elvisinthecathedral.org or by calling the ticket hotline on 01473 660800.
Christmas cards on sale now
You’ll see from the enclosed brochure that The Canterbury Gift has again joined forces with the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral and Cathedral Enterprises to bring you a superb range of Christmas cards and gifts. If you would like additional copies of the brochure for friends and family call 01227 865346 or view the range at www.savecanterburycathedral.com. If you live locally, you can visit our Burgate shop and buy the cards directly at £4.50 for a pack of 10.
As we approach Christmas, always a very special time of year here at Canterbury, it promises also to be an exciting period for the Appeal. After a relatively quiet time during the toughest times of the recession things are again looking very promising. Green shoots are appearing and we will continue to push purposefully on towards our target.
