Manchester Cathedral Development Project

A new heart for our city

The renewal of the birthplace of Manchester and Salford will secure the Cathedral and its surrounds for this and future generations. The two key aspects to the renewal, with a focus on the Cathedral buildings and its environments, will be developed in a number of partnerships. These partnerships include donations from worshippers, trusts, foundations and strategic partnerships with government agencies and the cities of Manchester and Salford.

Once completed, the Cathedral buildings, with its improved facilities, secured buildings and music traditions, will sit in a new environment with its own sense of place and space. This space will raise the public perception of the Cathedral and tell the untold story of medieval Manchester, becoming a new destination to those within the city and beyond.

The vision incorporates the following key aspects:

  • Repair and renovate the Cathedral fabric, roof and interior of the building adding additional space to support the work of the Cathedral.
  • Install a new organ (see concept drawing below) and establish a music endowment fund to support the wider musical life of the Cathedral and its partnership with Chetham’s School of Music.
  • Amend the Cathedral boundary and soft landscaping to encourage social activity and amenity.
  • Open up Cathedral entrances to improve visitor linkages and activate adjacent street environments.
  • Create a coherent internal and external lighting scheme that will address four levels: these are base, enhanced, local and feature lighting.
  • Reorder of the Cathedral Visitor Centre, creating additional entrances.
  •  Improve exposure of Hanging Bridge Ditch with new linkages to Victoria Arches and the Cathedral Visitor Centre.
  • Regenerate Victoria Arches providing active river frontage.
  • Create a series of contemporary pavilions that activate public spaces and provide physical and visual linkages for arts, music and education.

Be a part of it

You can participate in a number of ways:

Join our team and help us deliver this exciting project. Email us at beapartofit@manchestercathedral.org or call 0161 833 2220 for further information.

Join the Society of St Denys

Make a financial contribution online. 

Just TextGiving

It costs £120 an hour to run Manchester Cathedral.

Please help us by donating at least £3 towards maintenance, music and education.

If you would like to make a text donation to the Lighting fund, please text LITE12 followed by the amount you would like to donate, for example LITE12£10 to 70070.  You will then automatically be given the choice to Gift Aid it.

If you would like to make a text donation to the Organ fund, please text ORGN12 followed by the amount you would like to donate to 70070. You will then automatically be given the choice to Gift Aid it.

If you would like to make a text donation to the Heating fund, please text HEAT12 followed by the amount you would like to donate to 70070. You will then automatically be given the choice to Gift Aid it.

Please note the maximum donation in one transaction is £10.