Bristol Cathedral Receives Substantial Grant for Accessibility Enhancements

Bristol Cathedral has been awarded nearly £500,000 to facilitate improvements in its accessibility. This grant will enable the cathedral to proceed with planned construction, which includes installing a lift and leveling certain floor areas. Currently, wheelchair users are required to navigate the cathedral’s exterior in all types of weather to reach its facilities. The Reverend Canon Neil Patterson commented, “There’s more than that needed but it gives a core amount and hopefully we can build on that with more fundraising to make the project a reality.” He elaborated, “The cloister of the cathedral, where the Chapter House, the toilets and the café are, are about eight steps down from the level of the nave.” He added that “People with mobility issues have to go a long way outside, through the car park, which is difficult,” and that “It can be wet and not very dignified.” The £475,000 grant, provided by the Julia Rausing Trust, will initiate the cathedral’s “Access for All” project, beginning with the construction of a new lift. Furthermore, the cloister floor is scheduled to be raised to its original Victorian-era height, as depicted in historical photographs. Mr Patterson noted, “In some ways, in that section, we’re going back to what we once had before but the lift itself has got to be fitted into quite a little corner so that’s still a complicated thing to work out exactly how that’s going to be done.” The Very Reverend Dr Mandy Ford stated, “We have made some progress to improve accessibility in the cathedral this year but there is still a long way to go to make the building accessible for everyone.” She further expressed, “We are so grateful for this generous grant to allow us to build on this important work.” The funding will also cover upgrades to lighting and electrical systems, along with the installation of new, appropriate ramps. The “Access for All” project is projected to cost £750,000 in total, with additional funding actively being sought from other trusts and foundations. For updates, follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story submissions can be sent via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.