Cornwall Historic Churches Trust support vital repairs

A huge thank you to Cornwall Historic Churches Trust for granting the cathedral £4,000 towards the cost of repairs to the roof, stonework and rainwater goods of St Mary’s Aisle.

St Mary’s Aisle is close to the hearts of many people in Truro, because it is the oldest part of the cathedral, formed from the southern aisle of the original St Mary’s parish church. Christian worship at the site can be traced back to 1259, and St Mary’s church had been rebuilt twice before – in Gothic style in 1504 and in Georgian style in 1768. Today, the Aisle remains one of the most important spaces in the cathedral for holding weddings, civic events and community activities. But it needs help - on rainy days, the roof now leaks prolifically.

Fundraising has begun to make the roof safe and watertight. The necessary works include renewal of the lead valley gutters; renewal of the Delabole slate roof covering to St Mary’s Aisle and the St Mary’s Aisle Clock Tower low level south gable roof; replacement of roof access ladders; repair of high level Bathstone stonework and revision of rainwater drainage routes to alleviate frequent blockages.

Rectifying the roof defects in St Mary’s Aisle will restore this beautiful space, prevent further damage and avoid future costs. £45,000 has been pledged so far towards the £404,500 needed for the repairs, and the cathedral is extremely grateful to the Cornwall Historic Churches Trust for their contribution. Fundraising efforts will continue over the coming months, with the aim of getting these much-needed repairs underway as early as possible.

Judith Field
Fundraising Officer

To find out more about the work of the Cornwall Historic Churches Trust, visit www.chct.info