BY FIONA AUDLEY
A £1MILLION redevelopment project will put Birmingham’s historic St. Chad’s Cathedral firmly on the cultural map and reveal some of its hidden treasures to the public.
The building, dated 1841, was the first Catholic Cathedral built in England following the reformation.
As the mother church of the Archdiocese of Birmingham it boasts many deep-rooted links with the city although some of its most interesting treasures have been hidden away from the public eye.
A vast, unused crypt lies beneath the lofty city centre building, the interior of which was designed by the 19th century architect Augustus Pugin.
But for the parishioners, tourists and school children who regularly visit the cathedral the underground layer is out of bounds.
In a bid to restore the crypt and cathedral to its former glory a refurbishment project, which will cost between £750,000 and £1million, has been launched by Canon Pat Browne, Dean of the cathedral.
Father Browne, from Ferbane in Co. Offaly, explained: “The cathedral was built in 1841, but to bring it to the artistic level it embodies now has taken a number of years.
“Pieces have been added and it had been painted and decorated along the way, but now we are trying to develop the crypt below the building.
“At one stage, in the 1970s, this was used as a hostel for the homeless, but due to a fire and a fatality and new regulations with health and safety that became impossible for us to continue.
“We have so many valuable items, such as chalices from Birmingham’s jewellery quarter and glasswork from the local historic Hardman family, to show off, and we want to highlight how the heritage of Birmingham and the skills of the city’s past people is so much a part of the religious life of the cathedral today.”
He added: “It’s only in recent years that people are taking more and more interest in cities and their local history. It is becoming a very important topic for people and something that makes our project particularly timely.”
The mammoth and costly task of refurbishing the crypt will include painting and decorating the cathedral, bringing the area in line with health and safety regulations, making it accessible for all and providing the correct environment to preserve artefacts for display.
Fr Browne said: “One of the areas we are thinking about is the possibility of holding weddings in one of the crypt areas. It would fit 50 people comfortably and would make a lovely venue for that sized wedding, or for lunchtime lectures or recitals.
“Ultimately the idea is to open up St. Chad’s Cathedral further to the public and make people aware of its beauty and treasures, while at the same time providing facilities for groups within the city and beyond.”
As the fundraising campaign continues Fr Browne hopes the wider Catholic and Irish community will show their support for the project.
He said: “We hope to revisit a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and English Heritage to secure grants. But we would also invite local businesses and members of the Irish and Catholic communities in this area and beyond to contribute to the fundraising cause.”