£1/4m grant for Southwell Minster’s crumbling central tower

Nottinghamshire’s exquisite but little-known cathedral – Southwell Minster – has secured a grant of £250,000 under a joint scheme funded by English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation towards essential repairs to its crumbling medieval central tower.

The grant, which is the maximum sum available from the scheme, was announced today at Southwell Minster as part of a national launch of grants to 24 cathedrals across the country.

 Acting Dean, the Revd Canon Nigel Coates, said: “We’re delighted with this award which will enable us to continue our programme of maintenance and repair and preserve this jewel in the crown of cathedrals for the future.”

Nigel was joined on the roof of Southwell’s tower by the Chairman of English Heritage, Sir Neil Cossons. He said: “Even in our uncertain and often cynical age, cathedrals still have the ability to bring us to our knees with awe, just as the masons and craftspeople who created them centuries ago intended. They, more than any other type of building, demonstrate the power of architecture to affect us at the most profound level and to remind us of our place in history.”
The grant will go towards replacing the crumbling concrete tower roof and repairing stonework, estimated at around £600,000. Some £220,000 has already been donated from a variety of sources in partnership funding, leaving £130,000 still to be raised. But the latest grant has enabled work to begin on the tower this Spring.

The Minster’s Director of Fundraising, Charles Leggatt said: “News of the English Heritage/Wolfson grant was a huge boost to us here in Southwell. We would particularly like to thank the Friends of Southwell Minster and other local grant-making bodies for their generosity, which undoubtedly impressed national fund-givers. £130,000 is, of course, still a great deal of money to find and the final furlong of any appeal is inevitably the hardest.  I much hope others will now be inspired to come forward!"

Unlike any other Church of England cathedral, Southwell Minster, "a little guy," is not in, or near, a city centre with commercial hub offering corporate sponsorship opportunities.  More than others, Southwell therefore has to depend on individuals and grant-making charitable trusts for support. The Minster has various unique elements including the famous Chapter House carvings of leaves and its twin pepper pot towers – which are an icon across the county. It is also a cathedral that forms the centre of a community and is the local parish church.

The hope is that the community and other smaller charities will rally to support the Minster in its final furlong of the appeal and help raise the remaining £130,000.



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