Bury St Edmunds cathedral takes £72k grant from Culture Recovery Fund

Published: 12:58, 06 April 2021

| Updated: 12:59, 06 April 2021

St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds has received £72,900 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

The funding will help the landmark complete essential maintenance, develop its digital technology and train staff as it gears up to mark its 1,000th anniversary.

The Very Reverend Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, said: "This generous grant means that we are going to be able to invest properly in necessary preparations for a full reopening this summer."

Dean Joe Hawes at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury. Picture by Mecha Morton.

The cathedral welcomes 70,000 visitors annually and is currently holding a limit operation in the lead up to a full resumption of services from May 18.

Rev Hawes continued: "We will be able to train and upskill our staff and volunteers, undertake all the repairs and implement all the changes necessary to ensure visitor safety, and make good use of new technology in marketing as well as visitor experience.

"It is very exciting and we are immensely grateful to the government’s Culture Recovery Fund for assisting us in this way.”

Bury St Edmunds William Mata