The ravages of time and neglect have left Canterbury Cathedral, a World Heritage Site and one of the world’s best known Anglican church buildings, as an endangered structure in need of a massive injection of funds – writes Trevor Grundy.
The Cathedral gained global fame in English literary masterpieces such as the 14th century plays of Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Canterbury Tales”, and the 20th century play by T.S. Eliot, ‘Murder in the Cathedral’.
The public relations manager of the Save Canterbury Cathedral Appeal, Shelley Nye, said 9 million British pounds (US$13.3 million) of the total 50 million pounds needed has been raised, and the campaign will expand nationally and internationally in 2009.
Seems fitting.
Re: “… as an endangered structure…”
The spiritual structure is in real danger – much more than the physical structure.
We visited there about a year and a half ago and I couln’t help notice that Caterbury seemed in worse condition than several of the other cathedrals we saw. There also seem to have been some modifcations to the buildings in recent times that didn’t really take into account its beauty or historic nature — I seem to recall “No Smoking” notices painted directly on the ancient walls in the Chapter House.
I suspect the Lord, who in his earthly life had no were to lay his head, would have way better ideas for 50 million pounds. How about some church planting initiatives? Maybe support some African missionaries in England! From what I have read, it’s unlikely there will be any use for the place in 50 years – when there will be like 5 Anglicans left in the church of England.