AN EVENT that gives a special ‘behind-the-stones’ look at fundraising, bats, and artefacts while providing sponsorship opportunities is taking place at the cathedral this week.
The event provides vital information about aspects of the cathedral which may not have been known or seen previously and a talk entitled ‘Sponsoring Stones: Princely and ecclesiastical patronage in the age of Salisbury Cathedral’, is due to take place on the evening of Thursday, June 22.
Professor Emeritus of Medieval History, and Honorary Research Fellow at Courtauld Institute of Art, Lindy Grant reveals the way funds were raised in the 1300s to build medieval masterpieces such as the cathedral.
Read more: Archbishop of Canterbury takes to the stage at the Salisbury Cathedral
She said: “Building a great church in the Middle Ages was expensive, and funding preoccupied the churchmen responsible for it.
“Abbeys could rely on princely patrons, who wanted to be buried there. Cathedrals had to turn to more innovative methods, at a time when the most thoughtful churchmen, like Bishop Richard Poore, who launched the building of Salisbury Cathedral, were increasingly concerned about the corrosive impact of wealth.”
The current restoration programme of the Cloisters began earlier this year with 150 stones scheduled to be replaced over the next twelve months and 840 stones will need to be replaced across the North Cloister over the next four years.
Read more: Embroidery of magna carta Wikipedia page
Following the talk by Professor Grant, the Clerk of Works at the Cathedral, Gary Price will provide an update on how the restoration work is going, and how it is possible to sponsor a stone in memory of a loved one or to celebrate a special event or an achievement.
Head of Development and Fundraising at the cathedral, Jilly Wright said: “A recent survey uncovered significant issues in the North Cloisters that needed ‘urgent’ attention. The stone is heavily eroded and suffering from internal micro-fracturing, meaning there are parts that can be literally scooped out by a finger.
“Long cracks were also found in the Purbeck pillars, which reduces their load-bearing capacity significantly. So, it was important to get started as quickly as possible. On the upside, the Cloisters is a wonderful place to offer stones for sponsoring. It’s easy to visit, easy to spot your stone, and you can also see the restoration work up close.”
During the evening, it will be possible to browse artefacts from the archives and visit a special bat table hosted by Gareth Harris who is the county recorder for mammals.
The cathedral is home to 13 of the 15 species of bats native to the UK and evidence indicates the cloisters is a key mating site for some. As bats are faithful to their roosts, it is likely that the bats currently making the cathedral home are the ancestors of bats who lived at the site hundreds of years ago.
The event takes place on Thursday, June 22 at 7pm. Details on the Salisbury Cathedral website.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here