Worcester Cathedral has been awarded a grant of just over £1million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The money is to help it to progress its vision to create a unique historic venue to facilitate learning, arts and heritage for the whole community and to install a lift to provide access for all. 

The fund awarded an initial grant of £168,000 in September 2017 to develop the project, which will conserve and bring into public use for the first time the 12th-century Undercroft to College Hall. It also involves the conservation of the over-life size carving of ‘Christ in Majesty’ in College Hall.

Hopes are that the project will attract visitors and help develop the skills of local people, boosting the local economy.

 The development phase also included securing £500,000 in matched funding. A fundraising campaign was launched in November 2017 and received overwhelming support.

The Very Reverend Dr Peter Atkinson, Dean of Worcester Cathedral, said: “We are delighted to receive this support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and we send our warmest thanks to them and to the many individuals, businesses and charitable trusts who donated so generously to the fundraising campaign.

"The Undercroft will provide a fantastic new venue which we are aiming to open to the public in autumn 2020.”