VITAL repairs to Worcester’s historic Cathedral are nearing completion a year on from Storm Arwen’s 100mph winds which brought part of a pinnacle from the tower through the roof.
The new pinnacle, crafted by the Cathedral’s own team of stonemasons, is taking shape and will commemorate both the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023.
It incorporates all of the home nations, featuring a lionhead with a crown for England, a unicorn for Scotland, a dragon for Wales and shamrocks for Northern Ireland.
Since the storm, scaffolding has been up at various points, both outside and in.
Repairs have taken place on the roof and vaulting were damaged by the fallen masonry, more than 2,000 pipes have been removed, cleaned and restored in the quire organ, dust has been cleared and adjustments have been made to keep the Cathedral operating during this lengthy period of repair.
The 2021 storm happened on a Friday evening, just two days before the beginning of Advent.
The Dean of Worcester, the Very Reverend Peter Atkinson, said: “Scores of experts have been working hard over the past 12 months to repair the damage caused by Storm Arwen in November 2021. And we are very happy to report that that work is now nearing completion.
“First and foremost, work was carried out to ensure the safety of the building, so that we could reopen and continue to use the Cathedral, albeit in a slightly restricted way. The damaged roof and vaulting in the north quire aisle have now been repaired and the external scaffolding has come down.
“More than 2,000 pipes have been removed and cleaned from the quire organ and much cleaning has taken place around the building.
“Those of you that have visited recently will have seen the scaffolding in the quire, which remained in situ until all of the organ pipes were reinstated. And you may also have heard the organ being re-tuned over the past couple of weeks; I know I have!
“It is with great pleasure that we are able to return to the quire for the Sunday morning eucharist on Advent Sunday and to have the Cathedral and quire organ back in action in time for Christmas.
“It has been a lengthy process and we are extremely grateful to everyone involved in repairing the Cathedral.
“The work on the new pinnacle shows the skill and craftsmanship of our talented team of stonemasons, and we greatly look forward to it being completed and installed in 2023, to commemorate the Coronation year.”
To support the Cathedral, please donate to its Christmas Appeal 2022 at www.worcestercathedral.co.uk/Christmas2022
