THE CATHEDRAL ROOF

I suspect that over the last couple of weeks many of you will have noticed that whenever there is a prolonged period of wet weather, the Cathedral roof begins to leak. The reason for this, of course, is that unfortunately the Cathedral roofs are generally not in good shape and in some areas are now reaching the point where short-term repairs and localised patching are no longer sustainable.

For this reason, as you know, earlier this year we commissioned a detailed survey of the entire roof. This was carried out by a very reputable firm, Adams Napier Partnership, in June/July 2023. Again, unfortunately, Adams Napier found that in a number of areas across the various different levels of the Cathedral roof fundamental repairs are now necessary. All together they estimated that work costing in the region of £250,000 is required to repair and replace these elements of the roof in order to secure the Cathedral from significant water ingress for the next 20-30 years.

Many items within the survey are classified as “Urgent”, meaning that work should be put in hand immediately or within a year at most, with failure to do so resulting in significant further deterioration, damage and greater cost.

The number one priority is to tackle the significant water ingress into Sacristy 1, where every downpour now causes a proliferation of leaks and where the ceiling has been brought down numerous times already. Moreover, the ceiling has been patched internally with asbestos board, which will require specialist intervention when the time for replacement arrives.

Select the photos for a closer view
 L-R Damaged slating (this area now patched); Ceiling damage in Sacristy 1; Detail of the surrounding wall, open joints and gapped copes; Roof of sacristy 1 showing cupolas in poor condition

Phase One of the work necessary in Sacristy 1, costing around £15,000, will be to repair the walls surrounding the sacristy roof. This is necessary because in a number of areas the wall head has failed, leaving many joints open and thus allowing water ingress. Hard impermeable mortar also needs picking out and the walls need repointing.

Phase Two will involve the complete re-slating of the roof of Sacristy 1 and extensive work to the lead valleys, gutters, cupolas and cladding, costing around £40,000 – a figure that may well rise rise as the removal of other slates exposes rotten timbers and sarking. 

I am only too painfully aware of the cost of living crisis and that many of us are facing real financial difficulty with the rising cost of energy, etc. However, I am equally painfully aware that if we do not act quickly to address the problems in the Cathedral roof, they will get worse and we will incur further and more substantial costs.

For these reasons, we are going to launch an “Advent Appeal” to try to raise the £15,000 necessary to undertake Phase One of this roof repair programme. The appeal will principally take the form of a second collection at the end of all Sunday Masses in Advent and over Christmas. But we will also be selling Cathedral calendars and knitted goods to raise money during Advent – and if you have any further ideas to raise money please come forward with them and speak to me. Together I am confident that we will be able to rise to this challenge and so will be able to pass on our beautiful Cathedral to the next generation of Edinburgh Catholics.

Thank you,

Fr. Patrick

OTHER WAYS TO GIVE

Please contact the Cathedral finance office to set up a standing order to take the place of your weekly donation.

You can make a recurring, general donation to the Cathedral on the Archdiocese website - please don’t forget to add Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer.

Thank you for your support.