St Mary’s Cathedral Campaign.
Wrexham
Cathedral
By Kay Ryan, Local Parishioner, Fundraiser and Community Advocate. Article kindly shared by Guest Writer Vicky Heathfield.
Urgent
Repairs
St Mary’s Cathedral is in urgent need of essential repairs, with the cost estimated at more than £1.7 million. Over the past three years, parishioners have worked tirelessly to raise funds, alongside efforts to secure support from grant funders.
Grant
Funds
We are delighted that several recent grant applications have been successful, meaning Phase 1 of the renovation work can begin.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded the cathedral £250,000, providing a major boost to the project. The funding will also support an exciting oral history and heritage project.
Local
Support
We are also extremely grateful for the generous support of The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation, a £100,000 grant from The Benefact Trust and support from The Charles Lloyd Foundation, as well as the generosity of parishioners and visitors.
Why
The
Cathedral
Matters
St Mary’s stands at the gateway to the city of Wrexham in Regent Street and is situated next door to the new Museum of Two Halves, (Wrexham Museum & Football Museum Wales) which is also supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Phased
Works
Phase 1 of the renovation project includes replacing the floor, with Phase 2 involving the installation of a more energy-efficient heating system. These improvements will help to make the cathedral safer, more comfortable, and sustainable for generations to come.
A Place
Of Great
Significance
The cathedral is the spiritual home of the Catholic congregation and plays an important role in the lives of a large and diverse community. It is also a Grade II listed building of architectural interest and significance. Within the cathedral is a relic of our local saint, St Richard Gwyn, who was hanged, drawn and quartered at Wrexham Beast Market because he would not renounce his faith.
Celebrating
Heritage
As part of the project, we will develop new ways to celebrate and share the cathedral’s heritage, including:
Creating a heritage display;
Producing a guide to the stained-glass windows;
Recording the histories of parishioners across the generations; and
Displaying historic artefacts in a new exhibition.
We will deliver this work in collaboration with local schools, colleges and the university. Helping to make the cathedral an interesting and meaningful place to visit.
Our fundraising efforts will continue, but we would like to extend our sincere thanks to all donors for their invaluable support.