Bath Abbey receives Covid emergency grant
BATH ABBEY has received £155,800 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support its recovery from the impact of church closures during the coronavirus lockdown. The Fund offered £50 million in emergency grants to support the heritage sector (News, 22 May). The Abbey was closed for 15 weeks from March to July, when, it estimates, 150,000 people would have visited the building. The Rector, Canon Guy Bridgewater, said: “In these challenging times, the National Lottery Heritage Fund is a lifeline for us and many others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all. Certainly, Bath Abbey has rarely needed it more.”
Redundancies confirmed at Lincoln Cathedral
THE Dean and Chapter of Lincoln Cathedral have begun “with great regret” a consultation period concerning the closure of the Refectory café and restaurant and subsequent loss of jobs due to the financial impact of the coronavirus, a statement from the cathedral confirmed this week. “This process is ongoing and therefore, out of respect for our staff, congregation and customers, we will not be commenting further until the process is complete.” Since July, 13 cathedral staff have taken voluntary redundancy. “Between them, those leaving us have given 243 years’ dedicated service to the Cathedral, and it is exceptionally difficult to say farewell to friends and colleagues in such circumstances. As we navigate this difficult path, we are working carefully to support all staff at a time of uncertainty and sadness.”
Harvest appeal raises £80,000 for farming projects
THE annual Harvest Appeal from the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd James Newcome, has raised more than £80,000 in the past three years towards overseas farming projects. The two main beneficiaries are a Christian Aid scheme in Malawi which supports pigeon-pea farmers and a USPG project in the link diocese of Zululand which develops community food gardens to help empower local communities. The appeal has also benefited projects in the diocese of Carlisle, including the Cumbria Development Education Centre, Carlisle One World Centre, and Global Justice Now. The 2020 Harvest appeal, due to be launched in a Facebook Live event on Sunday, will support a Christian Aid peace-programme in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and a Mothers’ Union project in the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect women from sexual and physical violence.