Leeds Minster awarded vital funding to repair leaking roof

Rev Canon Sam Corley, Rector of Leeds, said the Minster has been “burdened” for years by its crumbling roof which has caused damage to the church’s structure and interior and stems from a spate of lead thefts in the 1970s.

The areas involved include the Lady Chapel with its wealth of memorials and statues as well as the church tower with its peal of 12 bells.

The grant - from the Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund - will help pay for work to re-lay the roofs to the north and east of the building and protect it from the elements in the future.

Rev Canon Corley said: “We are so pleased to have secured this grant which will help us solve a problem we have been burdened with for years.

“The essential works to various roofs around the Minster will help make the building watertight and so ensure that the city’s heritage is preserved for generations to come.”

The Minster is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country which will share £103m in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage, for work and maintenance on cherished heritage sites during the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 443 organisations will also receive a share of £67m from the fund to help with costs for operating, reopening and recovery, including Wenworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire and the Piece Hall in Halifax.

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 prepare us for a cultural bounceback post Covid.”

Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s chief executive, said: “It is heartening to see grants, both large and small, from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund helping heritage sites and organisations across the country which have been hit hard by the effects of Covid-19.”

He added: “The funding is an essential lifeline for our heritage and the people who work tirelessly to conserve it for us all, so that we can hand it on to future generations.”