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Earlier this week, Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport and Tourism visited Winchester Cathedral, as part of a wider day trip to Winchester. As part of the visit, the Minister was told about the important recovery work being undertaken in Hampshire so that visitors are able to enjoy attractions in the area once again.  

The Minister visited Winchester’s Great Hall, which is home to King Arthur’s iconic Round Table and Winchester Cathedral, a living place of worship and welcome for over 900 years.  

Accompanied by Steve Brine, Conservative MP for Winchester and Chandlers Ford, and Andrew Bateman, Tourism Manager, Hampshire County Council, the Minister was given a tour of Winchester Cathedral to experience its fascinating heritage and magnificent architecture, and to hear how the Cathedral has been supported by over £1.4 million from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. As part of the tour, both MPs were shown the National Lottery Heritage Funded exhibition Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation, which takes visitors on an interactive journey, exploring over 1,000 years of English history.  

Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport and Tourism said, “It was brilliant to visit some of the many fantastic attractions on offer in Winchester and witness first hand how the government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund is supporting the magnificent Winchester Cathedral as it begins to welcome back visitors.” 

The tour, which was led by The Very Revd Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester Cathedral and Alison Evans, Chief Operating Officer showcased some of the Cathedral’s greatest treasures including the 12th-century Winchester Bible and the 17th-century Morley Library which houses a collection of rare books bequeathed by Winchester’s Bishop Morley. 

The Very Revd Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester said, “We were delighted to welcome the Minister to the Cathedral. Over the last couple of months, the team has worked hard to ensure that visitors can return safely, and today we had an opportunity to discuss with the Minister the measures we have taken so that we can offer worship, services, tours, cultural events and exhibitions once again. We also spoke about how the pandemic has impacted life at this Cathedral and how we have adapted so that people can enjoy the heritage of the building and its rich history, which makes Winchester Cathedral so unique and special.”