York Minster welcomes £200,000 grant for vital repairs

Mon, Oct 27, 2014 18:47 CET

A government sponsored fund has awarded a grant of £200,000 to York Minster to support vital repairs to the 800 year-old building.

The grant, announced this morning by the Culture Secretary Sajid Javid, is part of an £8.3 million award from the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund. York Minster is one of 31 English cathedrals to receive money from the fund.

York Minster’s funding will be directed to the repair of the stonework and roof of the Camera Cantorum. Dating from 1415, and located on the south side of the Minster, the Camera Cantorum is a two storey structure, which currently houses the Minster shop and the Minster Song School and is where generations of choristers have been trained. Twelve former choristers and an Alto songman were killed on active service in the First World War.

Commenting on the award of the grant, the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, Dean of York Minster said:

“These funds will provide a very welcome contribution to the ongoing, protection, repair and conservation of the Minster. Today’s announcement acknowledges the importance of preserving our cathedrals for worshippers, visitors, local communities and in the national life and history of our country.

“Enabling the restoration of the Camera Cantorum with funds from the First World War fund is a fitting response and establishes and a living memorial to the lives of those local young musicians of great promise who gave their lives in service of the nation.”

Notes for Editors

For more information on the grants awarded under the £8.3 million fund visit www.gov.uk/government/news/cathedrals-secure-8million-for-repairs-as-part-of-first-world-war-centenary-fund

For more information about York Minster please contact:

Sharon Atkinson

Director of Communications

York Minster

Tel: 01904 557428

Email: sharona@yorkminster.org

Stacey Healey

Marketing Executive

York Minster

Tel: 01904 559545