Last year was a very full, fascinating and sometimes surprising year for the conservation and development teams at Canterbury Cathedral. The packed schedule of major works to the fabric of the Cathedral continued apace. Some projects, such as the conservation of the south side of the Corona, were completed during 2009. Others, like the conservation of the Howley-Harrison Library and the urgent repair work to the Great South Window began and are now well underway. And yet others still, such as the cleaning and restoration of the South Oculus Window will begin in earnest very soon. We also had a busy year of events and fundraising activity, including a host of superb musical concerts, a tour by the Cathedral Choir to the United States, our inaugural donor dinner in September, and the Cricket for Canterbury event at Lord’s Cricket Ground in November.
We must also mention the sterling efforts of many individuals and groups who arranged all sorts of wonderful events in aid of The Canterbury Gift throughout 2009. Thank you to all of you!
As we all know, economic times were tough last year and it would be misleading to say The Canterbury Gift had not been affected by the bite of the recession. In light of this situation, the support – both financial and otherwise – that so many of you have continued to give is all the more generous. We appreciate it greatly. We have put in much groundwork this year in preparation for an upturn in the economy, which we all hope will come soon!
Mission accomplished – the south side of the Corona
Extensive restoration work to the south side of the Corona was completed in the autumn. Scaffolding is being dismantled to reveal the Cathedral’s unique Corona in all its glory – or half of it at least.
Much of the masonry work has been cleaned and conserved, repaired or replaced. Canterbury’s skilled team of stonemasons has restored half of the Corona’s pinnacles, breathing new and extended life into their failing structures. Unsightly bitumen cappings at the top of the Corona have been replaced with handmade Kentish clay tiles.
The timber in the Corona’s southern staircase tower had severe rot in it and so the entire roof has been replaced.
Work to the north side of the Corona has been temporarily put on hold while more pressing projects – such as the conservation of the Great South Window – take place. But when it does begin, the Cathedral works team will simply mirror the work successfully completed on the south side. The estimated total cost of conserving the Corona is £2.2 million.
Forthcoming events
There are already some fabulous events in aid of the Cathedral lined up for 2010.
On Saturday, April 17, a very unusual concert for Canterbury, but one which we are very much looking forward to, will see the gospel music of Elvis Presley showcased in the Cathedral Nave. A few tickets are still available from Arena Travel’s ticket hotline on 01473 660800.
On Thursday, March 4, there will be a Ladies Lunch at Eastwell Manor. We invite you to join us, and our guest of honour Sandra Howard, in beautiful surroundings for a two course lunch and a chance to buy a variety of ladies’ luxury gifts. For more information please contact our events coordinator, Susie Fox on 01227 865346.
On Sunday, March 14, a special choir brought together from members of choirs and choral societies from all over Kent will perform excerpts from The Messiah in the glorious Cathedral Nave. Tickets for this wonderful concert are on sale now priced at £12.50 each. Concessions are available at £10.00 for senior citizens, Friends of Canterbury Cathedral and Cathedral staff and volunteers. Please call our ticket hotline on 01227 464764 to book.
Finally, a date for the diary. On Friday April 16 best selling author Ken Follett will visit the Cathedral to read from one of his historic novels based around a construction of a medieval cathedral. More details of this event will follow soon.
A great new way for you to help – the South Oculus Mosaic Appeal
As always with our newsletter we have enclosed information on how you can continue to support the Cathedral. With our last offering we asked you to directly support work on the Great South Window. You will remember that a new, unexpected but very significant addition was made to the Cathedral’s program of works when a piece of stone fell from this window in the summer. Scaffolding now covers the window both inside and out, precious stained glass has been removed, and work is underway to address the urgent structural issues detected in its stonework. In response to our plea for help, donations flooded in from our far-flung family of trusted donors and a healthy sum is being raised towards the cause.
In this newsletter, we would like to tell you about an exciting new fundraiser we have recently launched with the Kent-based company Mosaic Appeals. By logging onto www.savecanterburycathedral.com and following the link on the home page you can sponsor a virtual fragment of the beautiful South Oculus Window for just £10. This is the first official announcement of this new fundraiser, but word has evidently spread with more than 350 tiles already having found proud sponsors. You can name your tile and leave a short message, and anyone can log on to the site to see the Oculus slowly revealed, so it could make a perfect present or be a great way to show that you or your business supports the Appeal.
The Canterbury Gift team would like to wish you a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
