Southwell Minster awarded £400,000 from government's Culture Recovery Fund

A grant of £400,900 has been awarded to Southwell Minster to help its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The historic cathedral was among the first tranche of heritage organisations to benefit from the government's £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund.

The money will be used to develop new areas of income and growth, and enhance its visitor experience.

The Dean of Southwell, The Very Rev Nicola Sullivan, said: “This generous grant gives us a real opportunity to rebuild our vital work after the serious financial difficulties of the last seven months.

"People come to Southwell Minster looking for inspiration, peace and hope in these unsettling times and this support will ensure our doors of welcome remain open.”

Adele Poulson, chief operating officer, said: “This is fantastic news for us and an essential lifeline for the cathedral and all those who work and volunteer here.

"This funding is financially transformative and will enable us to safeguard the historic fabric of the building, preserve jobs, and build on our hospitality of welcome which we hope will be enjoyed by all those who visit this remarkable place.

"We are enormously grateful to the government for this support.”

Southwell Minster is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest Norman churches in England and one of the primary iconic heritage attractions in the East Midlands.

It will use the grant to deliver its strategic plans for long-term sustainability.

The funding will allow the minster to develop new areas of income and growth, which has been severely reduced due to covid-19, enhance its visitor experience by developing a more compelling heritage and tourism offering, and continue to provide employment and volunteering opportunities for people in Southwell and the wider county.

Just over 450 heritage organisations in England received grants of up to £1m from the fund, which aims to restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on heritage sites, keep venues open, and support those working in the sector.

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.”