Canterbury Cathedral (Part Seven).

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Cloister ceiling, Canterbury Cathedral.

Photo: April 2011.

Source: Own work.

Author: Mattana

(Wikimedia Commons)

The oldest bell in the Cathedral is "Bell Harry", which hangs in a cage, atop the Central Tower, to which the bell lends its name. This bell was cast in 1635, and is struck at 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. every day to announce the opening and closing of the Cathedral, and also, occasionally, for Services, as a Sanctus bell.

The Cathedral library has a collection of about 30,000 books and pamphlets printed before the 20th-Century and about 20,000 later books and serials. Many of the earlier books were acquired as part of donated collections. It is rich in Church history, older theology, British history (including local history), travel, science and medicine, and the anti-slavery movement. The library's holdings are included in the online catalogue of the library of the University of Kent.

In 2006, a new fundraising appeal to raise £50 million was launched to much media attention under the dramatic banner "Save Canterbury Cathedral".

Approach to Canterbury Cathedral. 11.00 a.m, Palm Sunday. 2005.

 Photograph taken from gardens just inside city walls.

Photo: March 2005.

Source: From geograph.org.uk

Author: Elaine Morgan

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Canterbury Cathedral Appeal was launched to protect and enhance Canterbury Cathedral's future as a religious, heritage and cultural centre. Every five years, the Cathedral carries out a major structural review. The last so-called Quinquennial made it very clear that a combination of centuries of weathering, pollution and constant use had taken its toll on the building and there were some serious problems at Canterbury Cathedral that needed urgent action.

Much of the Cathedral's stonework is damaged and crumbling, the roofs are leaking and much of the stained glass is badly corroded. It is thought that, if action is not taken now, the rate of decay and damage being inflicted on the building will increase dramatically with potentially disastrous results, including closure of large sections of the Cathedral in order to guarantee the safety of the million-plus worshippers, pilgrims and tourists who visit the Cathedral every year.

Canterbury Cathedral at dusk. Seen from the Cathedral Gate hotel.

Photo: April 2012.

Source: Own work.

Author: Adam Bishop

(Wikimedia Commons)

As well as restoring much of the historic fabric of the Cathedral, the appeal aims to fund enhancements to visitor facilities and investment to build on the Cathedral's musical tradition. By November 2008, the appeal had raised more than £9 million. Previous major appeals were run in the 1950s and 1970s.

In the Summer of 2009, stones in the South-West Transept were discovered to have cracked around several iron braces surrounding the Great South Window. The cracks are presumed to be the result of the metal expanding and contracting in hot and cold weather, and have severely compromised the structure of the window. The Transept was closed while scaffolding was erected, and the area immediately in front of the inside of the window was closed off and covered, to maintain access, via the South Door, beneath it. This area was given restoration priority immediately after the structural damage was discovered.

THIS CONCLUDES THE ARTICLE ON CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL.