These pictures show how far York Minster’s major building project has progressed.
The new Centre of Excellence for Heritage Skills and Estate Management is taking shape – and has been boosted by a significant donation.
The Garfield Weston Foundation has given £500,000 to the scheme.
It is the largest philanthropic gift granted by a charitable foundation towards the Minster’s work to date.
The cathedral launched a fundraising campaign last summer after the projected cost, estimated at £5 million in 2018, spiralled to £9 million.
Alex McCallion, director of works and precinct at York Minster, said: “This incredibly generous donation by the foundation will help hugely towards realising our vision for the Centre of Excellence, in turn encouraging national and global learning and knowledge sharing of traditional heritage crafts and cutting-edge technologies.
“The centre is crucial for helping us to secure the environmental, financial and heritage sustainability of York Minster for many years to come and the trustees’ support has played a key part in enabling this to happen.”
Director of The Garfield Weston Foundation Philippa Charles said: “We are delighted to support the state of the art training facilities and affordable trainee accommodation provided at the York Minster Centre for Excellence.
“In a time of dwindling numbers of heritage craft practitioners learning the skills required to preserve and maintain beautiful historic buildings such as York Minster, we are delighted to help support this important project.
“We look forward to seeing the centre develop.”
The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family founded grant maker that gives money to support a wide range of charities across the UK, in total donating around £90m each year.
York Minster’s new Centre for Excellence will open later this year and will help to improve the productivity of restoration work, and retain traditional craft skills and practitioners.
You can donate to the £2m fundraising campaign here.