St George’s Cathedral receives grant from WWI centenary fund

The £20 million First World War Centenary Cathedral Repair Fund was announced by chancellor George Osborne in this year's Budget speech.

In July St George's Cathedral was awarded £380,000 from the fund towards the renewal of its heating system.

This week a second round of grants was announced, including a further award of £167,000 to Southwark's RC cathedral for repairs to parapets.

"Our heritage in this country is precious and unique," said culture secretary Sajid Javid. "We need to do all we can to protect it for future generations."

"This second round of grants will ensure that even more of our magnificent and awe-inspiring cathedrals can complete urgent and much needed repairs, so they can continue to play a huge role in the communities they serve.

"Our places of worship are also playing a huge part in all our plans to commemorate the centenary of the First World War, and this Fund is helping to ensure they can fulfil this role to remember those who gave so much for us so many years ago."

On Tuesday 11 November 1,000 young people from schools in Southwark and Lambeth will take part a special memorial service for Armistice Day at St George's Cathedral, followed by the planting of a field of poppies in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park and a football tournament to recall the unofficial Christmas truce of 1914.