Gargoyle Freeminer

Friends' Grants

Your support makes a difference

As Gloucester Cathedral’s best friend and principal partner, our income from subscriptions, legacies and donations enables us to continue to support the Cathedral through grants.

Funds go towards maintaining the fabric of the Cathedral and supporting the world class musical tradition. Sometimes the Friends give a grant for one-off projects such as the famous Gloucester Candlestick and an historic map for the Library. The support of the Friends is essential to ensure that almost 1,000 years of heritage and music are maintained for future generations.

In the challenging times of the pandemic, the Friends gave a substantial emergency grant to the Cathedral and supported the Beacon of Hope appeal in 2020.

  • Project Pilgrim

    We were proud to be the first and last funders of the Cathedral's transformational project, Project Pilgrim Phase 1, including the restoration of the Lady Chapel (pictured). We have also pledged £400,000 to the next phase.

  • North Ambulatory Project

    Grants totalling £100,000 in 2018 and 2019 helped ensure the Cathedral stonemasons were able to complete a major restoration project on the at-risk North Ambulatory. Works included repointing, conserving and cleaning the stone, fixing the guttering and installing six new gargoyles.

  • Friends Chorister Scholarship

    Currently the Friends award an annual grant to support both a Girl and a Boy Chorister. The Friends Chorister Scholarship has provided crucial support for over 50 years and plays a key role in continuing the Cathedral's choral tradition.

  • Music Grants

    Every year we give a substantial sum to help fund the music that supports daily worship. In addition to sponsoring choristers, we fund the girl chorister mentor and the sub organist. We also commissioned a new work for the Cathedral choirs, John O'Hara's Gloucester Magnificat, which was premiered at our Friends Day in July 2017. It is available on CD from the Cathedral gift shop.

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