Nearly £250,000 in funding has been secured to pay for urgent repairs at Worcester Cathedral.
The cathedral will use the £249,956 grant, awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to repair and conserve the northwest pinnacles as part of its Reaching New Heights project.
The work will focus on rebuilding two of the tower’s pinnacles with a long-term, sustainable solution to protect the historic structure for future generations.
The Very Revd Dr Stephen Edwards, Dean of Worcester, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“The rebuilding of the tower pinnacle is not simply a matter of structural repair – it is an investment in the cultural, spiritual and communal life of Worcester and the wider region.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, vital restoration work and community outreach will ensure a brighter future for Worcester Cathedral.”
North west corner of tower (Image: Clews Architects)
In November 2021 Storm Arwen’s 100mph winds caused the northeast pinnacle to collapse.
Subsequent surveys found the northwest pinnacles were built in the same way and remain at risk.
Temporary steel brackets currently support them, but full reconstruction is now required.
The project will combine traditional stonemasonry skills with modern engineering, using Red Hollington stone and integrated steelwork.
The work will be carried out by the cathedral’s in-house team alongside specialist consultants and volunteers.
A programme of community engagement will run alongside the repairs and include exhibitions, educational activities for schools and families, and a heritage skills and careers fair in October 2026 delivered in partnership with West Midlands Heritage Trust.
The project will promote inclusion, learning, and environmental sustainability by adapting the pinnacles to withstand future storms and protecting the cathedral’s resident peregrine falcons.
Work is expected to begin soon and continue until March 2027.
The total cost of the project is just under £400,000, with the remainder funded through cash contributions and in-kind donations, including support from Autodesk Foundation.
The cathedral is seeking further match funding from trusts and foundations.
Worcester Cathedral attracts more than 192,000 visitors a year and is supported by 190 volunteers.
