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Winchester Cathedral receives lifeline grant from Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund

Winchester Cathedral is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive a lifesaving financial boost from the government thanks to the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

445 organisations will share £103 million, including Winchester Cathedral to help restart vital work and maintenance on cherished heritage sites, keeping venues open and supporting those working in the sector.

Winchester Cathedral has received £948,000 to support essential staffing costs and overheads until March 2021. This will enable the Cathedral to continue caring for the precious heritage, to keep its doors open every day for visitors and worshippers, and at the same time build its digital capability to
support and engage with an ever wider audience.

This vital funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund –
funded by Government and administered at arms length by Historic England and the National
Lottery Heritage Fund. Both funds are part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
which is designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent
cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

433 organisations will receive a share of £67 million from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage to
help with costs for operating, reopening and recovery. The funds will save sites that are a source of
pride for communities across the country.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This
massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help
us prepare for a cultural bounceback post covid.”

The Reverend Canon Dr Roland Riem, Vice-Dean at Winchester Cathedral said:
“We are deeply grateful for this public money, which will help us hugely in these challenging times,
as we do our best to maintain and widen public accessibility.”

Steve Brine, MP said “it is essential we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past.

“This support package will protect this much loved, and unique, heritage site and help us prepare for
a much needed cultural bounceback.”

Winchester Cathedral is one of the most historically significant buildings in Britain. From the time of
Alfred the Great until after the Norman Conquest, Winchester was England’s capital and the
Cathedral was its royal chapel. The cathedral has re-opened to the public, including its stunning
Kings and Scribes exhibition which unlocks the cathedral’s stories and heritage.

Opening times and visiting details can be found on the Winchester Cathedral website