Following a year of celebrations to mark its centenary, Bradford Cathedral has launched an appeal to raise £150,000 to renew public seating in the building.
The cathedral is the oldest building in Bradford and plans are being made to protect and enhance it so that it is properly equipped to serve the Bradford community for the next 100 years.
This will include replacing existing seating with new chairs.
The Dean of the cathedral, The Very Revd Jerry Lepine, is asking for support from local people and businesses to help raise the funds needed: “The cathedral stands on a site that has been a place of Christian worship and prayer for over a thousand years.
“Today we welcome people of all faiths and none, and the cathedral is used in so many different ways; for civic occasions, community and charity events, concerts and conferences.
“As well as being over 30 years old, our chairs are incredibly heavy and impractical.
“They can only be moved two at a time, and with over 500 services and events at the cathedral each year, there are often days when our Vergers are spending up to six hours moving chairs.”
A flexible new chair arrangement in the cathedral will be both more attractive and practical, allowing for a diverse range of activities to take place that more people can enjoy.
Donations to the Take a Seat appeal can be made via the cathedral’s website at www.bradfordcathedral.org/appeal or in the cathedral itself.
All donations will be publicly acknowledged and donors will be invited to an exclusive celebration event when the new chairs are installed.
For more information contact the cathedral on 01274 777720 or on info@bradfordcathedral.org.uk.