Brecon Cathedral Secures £2m Heritage Grant for ‘Urgent’ Reroof

The ‘urgent’ reroofing of Brecon Cathedral is set to begin soon thanks to a £2 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The reroof is part of the ‘People | Passion | Priory: Brecon Cathedral, The Heart and Soul of Community’ project to preserve and transform the cathedral’s heritage buildings.

The Heritage Fund grant is in addition to separate grants of £745,000 which have already been awarded to the project.

‘Urgent’ Reroof

Work is being delivered by Birmingham-based architects and historic building consultants, Oliver Architecture.

Most of the cathedral’s sandstone tile roofs haven’t been touched since the last major works in the 1860s and 70s. An inspection found the roof tiles had become loose over time and the undersides degraded.

Work is due to start in March 2026 with the opening of a new west entrance, followed by interior reordering and the replacement of the south transept roofs over the summer. Plans also include enhancing the piazza area for visitors.

The reroofing of the cathedral will also provide NVQ Level 3 heritage training for 18 young roofers, ensuring the project “gives back to the community it serves”.

Further roofs will be replaced using locally sourced sandstone tiles in later phases until the project ends in 2028.

Once complete, the transformation will create a communal space at the heart of the building, for exhibitions, concerts, plays and a myriad of other community events.

Vision for the Future

The Very Reverend Dr Paul Shackerley, Dean of Brecon, said: “Our home team and consultants are absolutely delighted that our vision for the future of Brecon Cathedral can now be realised thanks to The National Lottery players and our additional funders.

“Now we can start work, fixing decades of urgent repairs, offering a safe and accessible welcome to all who visit and sharing the excitement we all feel for our history and culture, whilst enhancing our position at the heart of community.

“The project will ensure the cathedral – with its history, heritage and outward facing mission – is here for future generations to enjoy as we have.”

Andrew White, Director for Wales, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this funding will help Brecon Cathedral strengthen its role at the heart of the community, safeguard its heritage and create new ways for people to engage with its story for generations to come.”

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