York Minster today welcomed £100,00 of additional funding from a government sponsored body to support vital repairs to the stonework of the 800 year-old building.
The grant to York Minster is part of a £6.9 million funding package announced today by the First World War Centenary Repairs Fund. 24 Church of England cathedrals and seven Catholic cathedrals will receive grants of between £12,000 and £800,000 for essential and urgent repairs. The new grants mark the final phase of the fund’s work.
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.
York Minster’s Camera Cantorum has received a total of £300,000 from the fund. An award of £200,000 was made in October 2014.
Commenting on the new funding, the Very Revd Vivienne Faull, Dean of York Minster said, “The First World War Centenary Repairs Fund has provided cathedrals across the country with a vital financial lifeline to enable major fabric repairs that will protect and conserve our cathedrals for worshippers, visitors and communities.