APPROVAL for the reordering
of Leicester Cathedral to accommodate the tomb of Richard III has
been postponed until after a High Court ruling that could affect
where the King should be buried (News, 27
September).
The Cathedrals Fabrics
Commission for England (CFCE) had been due to make a decision last
month on the £1.3-million proposal for a Yorkshire limestone tomb
in the cathedral's chancel, but agreed to defer consideration until
after the judicial review hearing next Tuesday. The High Court will
hear a claim, from supporters of a burial site in York Minster,
that the original exhumation and interment process was flawed.
In a statement issued on
Monday of last week, the CFCE said: "Until this has taken place,
there is no certainty over where the remains of Richard III will be
buried. Without this certainty, the CFCE could not give permission
for internal building works which included a tomb space."
It also pointed out that
there were concerns that the reordering involved alterations to a
wooden screen installed in 1927 by the architect Sir Charles
Nicholson. The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the
Victorian Society, and the Twentieth Century Society have all
expressed reservations.
The Dean of Leicester, the
Very Revd David Monteith, said: "Leicester Cathedral recognises the
complexity of the case the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England
is having to deal with, and therefore understands why, at this
juncture, the Commission failed to reach a verdict on our
comprehensively researched proposals for a tomb for King Richard
III as part of a major reordering of the cathedral.
"We are disappointed, but we
appreciate that it is rare for a major application of this kind to
be approved at the first discussion, owing to its complex
nature.
"We continue to have
confidence in the proposals we have submitted, but recognise that
such important matters often need more than one formal
consideration before agreement can be reached that the scheme is
right for all purposes. The Chapter is convinced that the design is
the right one for the Cathedral.
"It is estimated that the
works necessary to provide the tomb and its place of honour will
take six months, so this development does appear to rule out a
reinterment date before summer 2014 at the earliest.
"We have consistently stated
that final decisions must await the outcome of the judicial review
and we fully respect that legal process. We remain committed to
continuing our collaborative preparations to prepare for a
dignified and timely reinterment of King Richard III in Leicester
Cathedral."
The chairman of the CFCE, Frank Field MP, said: "The case at
Leicester has raised national interest and excitement. However, it
is the job of the CFCE to look at each case on its own merits and
consider the impact of proposed works on the heritage values of the
building and on the primary purpose of all as centres for Christian
worship and mission."