Day 6 Extra

The Cathedral Tea Rooms, purveyors of fine foods are a little under siege from the builders at the moment, so I thought I would add this photo as a little subliminal messaging.....

Storage Issues - Day 6

One of our big problems at the Cathedral is a lack of storage space. We are small but perfectly formed until it comes to packing things away...

Now we have two new storage areas:

The first is a very ingenious Cube behind the High Altar; completely invisible from the Quire but a very useful and cleverly designed space. The photo on the right shows the space where Altar Frontals will be stored which concertinas into a very small area. It has been designed by our Architects, Carden and Godfrey and built by Workhaus who will do all the exhibition fit out. as an indication of the quality of their work, we are very pleased!

 The second are is what we used to call the Chair Store. This is a late addition to the Nave by the North Transept. It has been transformed into a series of lockable areas for each department of the Cathedral Here is the Flower Arrangers area. From here they produce the most wonderful arrangements that adorn the Cathedral for much of the year.

 This one isn't so good but shows the general area.

Getting ourselves ready - Day 5

There is so much stuff .... and all of it needs to be moved!

The Library was emptied of book ages ago, when we thought that the work would start in the early part of the year.University of Kent.
They are all stored safely in the Archive at Maidstone and very soon will begin the process of cataloging at the



However, you would not believe how much other stuff there was in there....all of this came out and has to be found a temporary home. Goodness knows where, but thankfully that is the Vergers department!







Then there is all the stuff that used to live in various bits of the Crypt. All that has to be disposed of or found a storage space.

Fortunately there is a big container in the back yard of the Deanery garden, lots of the stuff will go there.




Have you spotted the technical term I have been using? STUFF .... ecclesiastical clobber... not sure what else to call it really but it all has been found a home. Some of it is for sale, so if you spot an item that you fancy, let me know!

Behind the scenes - Day 3

I am unable to report that the Portaloos have been located in their permanent home, but there have been several new Portacabins erected in the car park outside The College.

However, there has been lots of activity in the Project Office today. The two key people here at Edwina Bell, our Project Director on the right, and Marilyn Tyler, Project Administrator. They were a little embarrassed by the state of their office, but as the saying goes ... the camera never lies!

Edwina has been the driving force behind this project since its inception long before I arrived on the scene. It was her vision and energy that created the project and found the funding for it. All I had to do when I got here was to sign the application form.

Marilyn, who doubles as my PA, oversees all the the detail of the project. Together they make quite a team!

The project is not just the building works. We are also busy planning the first exhibition that will take place in the Crypt and the Library has been moved to Maidstone for storage during the build and also to be cataloged. Future posts will introduce our Community Engagement and Interpretation Officer and our Librarian.

Also key to the success of the whole thing is our encouragement of volunteers guides and welcomers. Again we have a member of staff overseeing this who will feature soon!

Day 2 - Portaloos cause comment....

I walked down the High Street this morning and as I passed the Diocesan Offices (formerly St Nicholas's Church) I came across 2 portaloos. A few steps further brought me to a member of the diocesan staff, who commented that she hoped that was not the permanent position for these vital necessities....

Well, of course we value our relationship with the Diocese of Rochester much more than that so very soon the cabins were moved.

This is immediately outside our Tea Rooms, located int eh former Deanery, now known as The College.  So I went inside to chat to our manager who shared the view of the diocesan staff, hoping that they were going to be moved very quickly....


While on the subject of the Tea Rooms, they really do a fabulous job, with a wide variety of goodies on sale. When you come to look at our building work or join in one of the tours to see progress, why not book lunch or an afternoon tea to finish off the day?

While on the subject of food, the workers canteen is coming together nicely. I had never really thought about these things before, but in a box outside was a new fridge and all the kit needed for a kitchen.

Work begins - Day 1

Buxton Constrcution our contractors for the main building works arrived on site this morning, so as promised last week, it 's All Systems are Go.

And just to prove it....

The canteen is being erected.

It's all systems go....

I have just come from a meeting at which the last bit of permission was granted for our major building project. So the builders can arrive on Monday morning and off we go.

Yesterday we also heard that the Heritage lottery Fund have increased their grant to us so that all aspects of the project are now fully funded. We are so grateful to our funders for their generosity and that they share our vision of how we can put Rochester Cathedral more firmly on the map of the South East of England.

Our funders are:

Heritage Lottery Fund

The Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust

Garfield Weston Foundation

Rochester Bridge Trust

Wolfson Foundation

Headley Trust

Friends of Rochester Cathedral

Esmee Fairbairn Trust

Church Care / DCMS - World War 1 Cathedral Fund

I will be taking lots of photos during the build and give you a full commentary of what is going on.... Starting on Monday