The Cathedral in Crisis
Extensive coverage in the Catholic Press greets the launch of our appeal to raise £3 million to repair the vaults and electrical services of the Cathedral. In 2007, for the first time since the 1950s, we were able to inspect the interior of the domes, as reported here: what we found alarmed us.
Unless action is taken immediately, within a few years we will find ourselves in a situation where we have may have to close some parts of the Cathedral. The Cardinal has headed up the appeal and today's launch, braving the weather to stand on the roof of the Cathedral.
In addition, one hundred years of London smog, nearby bombs from the Luftwaffe, and constant vibrations from traffic, have taken their toll. The mortar that support the brickwork is seriously eroded and cracked.
We need to erect sacaffolding throughut the Cathedral to restore the brickwork, and ensure that it is in good condition for generations to come.
As well as the structural problems, there are issues with the wiring and heating.
These are now ancient, and beyond repair. the sound system frequently breaks down, and is only kept operational by the constant attentions of our electricians.
As well as being unsightly, these are dangerous, and constitute a fire hazard.
You can find out more, and even make a donation, here.
2 comments:
well done on the tv news appearance, you didn't look nervous at all! very professional. having seen the state of your electrics, i'm going to make a donation with this in mind. i'm surprised the lights didn't sizzle out ages ago r worse, a small fire. good luck with the appeal.
Bless you, Fr Mark and all the chaplains and staff. You desrve every support, certainly I will back your campaign. There is no finer architectural expression of the Catholic faith in England, and it is our duty to sustain and preserve it for future generations. Thank you for your unremitting hard work.
Post a Comment