Norwich Cathedral awarded £57,000 grant for vital conservation work
The Grade I listed cathedral was added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register in 2024
Norwich's Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist is to get a £57,000 grant to help conserve the landmark.
Awarded by Historic England, the funding will enable vital investigation work to assess the impact of increased leaks on sections of the cathedral’s roofs and drainage system.
These assessments will be the first step in a wider programme of repairs to protect the Grade I listed building.
Built in the late 19th century by renowned architect George Gilbert Scott Junior and completed by his brother John Oldrid Scott, St John the Baptist is the second largest Catholic cathedral in England after Westminster Cathedral and a key example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture.
"A vital part of Norwich's cultural and social fabric"
The building became the Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia in 1976 and attracts visitors from across the globe.
It also acts as a community hub - having hosted Norwich City Council's winter night shelter programme supporting rough sleepers, and a number of community support groups.
It also offers facilities for local activities ranging from fitness classes to mother and baby groups.
Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director, Historic England, said: "The Cathedral of St John the Baptist is not just an architectural treasure, but a vital part of Norwich's cultural and social fabric.
"This £57,000 grant will help identify and address urgent repairs needed to protect this magnificent building. The cathedral's role as both a tourist destination and community hub make it essential that we safeguard its future for generations to come."
Charley Purves, Cathedral Manager, The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist, said: “Securing this funding is an important first step in this journey, enabling us to better understand the issues the building is facing so that the work required is suitably planned and allows us to look to the future too.
"We are grateful to Historic England for supporting the Cathedral in this way.”