Lincoln Cathedral Connected

For over 900 years, Lincoln Cathedral endured storms, earthquakes, wars – even a meteorite strike. Aloft on the Lincoln Ridge, facing the City, it has witnessed many of history’s pivotal moments. Today it continues as a place of Christian prayer and pilgrimage, with an active role in public life, a community resource, a heritage icon for tourists. Yet its current custodians face great challenges.

Despite generous donations, visitor income and grants, increasing costs cannot be met by falling charitable funding and serious investment is needed for Lincoln Cathedral to become self-financing.

Lincoln Cathedral Connected is the ambitious plan for a £16 million investment in the Cathedral’s Education, Activity and Community Programmes, set in a new Visitor Centre. In 2015, the Heritage Lottery Fund put their faith in the Cathedral’s vision by pledging £12.4 million to the project.

The Connected Project Team, aided by architects, designers and engineers, has honed the vision. Conservation work on the West Front will secure this internationally recognised heritage for future generations. The conversion and extension of the Old Deanery (the former Lincoln Minster School in Eastgate) will provide the Cathedral with a café, shop, children’s and community facilities, offering a warm and hospitable welcome to all. Exhibition spaces will display the Cathedral’s hidden treasures. Another exciting aspect is the landscaping of the West Front and northside Dean’s Green to create beautiful public spaces for everyone to enjoy, including quiet, reflective gardens and vibrant areas for events and activities.

In January 2017 the David Ross Foundation approved a £1.5 million grant towards the Lincoln Cathedral Connected Project as part of the ambitious investment plan to be completed by 2021. The funds donated by the David Ross Foundation will provide much needed match funding and will be used towards the Learning and Discovery wing of the Cathedral project, to be called the David P.J. Ross Education Centre.

David Ross said “I am very pleased to be supporting this project and will look forward to working with Lincoln Cathedral, the Historic Lincoln Trust and The David Ross Education Trust on such an iconic project. We look forward to organising a programme of activities for schools in the future.”

It is wonderful news that a great Lincolnshire philanthropist has made another contribution to our historic city. In doing so, he has shown both dedication and foresight. His generosity will enable us to create an Education Centre at the Cathedral that will be second to none.
Lord Cormack, Chairman of the Historic Lincoln Trust

The Very Reverend Christine Wilson, Dean of Lincoln said: “Lincoln Cathedral Connected is an exciting and ambitious project that will greatly enhance the visitor experience and shape the future of the Cathedral. We are delighted that the David Ross Foundation has chosen to support this project with such generosity. It will greatly benefit visitors, staff and the wider community contributing a further boost to the local economy. It is wonderful to receive this significant encouragement and we look forward to getting started.”

Look out for further updates on this exciting project!