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England's cathedrals are the great heritage success story of our era. They are the country's largest, most historic and most complex buildings yet they are generally in good repair and continuing to add to their glories by commissioning new works from fonts to fire doors and from choir schools to cafés, English Heritage revealed today (Tuesday, 1 December). It also announced a grant to Lincoln Cathedral for urgent repairs, a symbol of English Heritage's continued commitment of support for cathedrals.

The English Heritage Cathedrals Fabric Condition Survey

The English Heritage Cathedrals Fabric Condition Survey 2009 published today shows that:

• cathedrals have spent more than £250 million on repairs since 1991 and most critical work has been done
• cathedrals have spent nearly £90 million on repairs since 2001 and over the same period have spent nearly £90 million on new works to add to their splendour and make them more welcoming to visitors
• over the next 10 years cathedrals need to spend some £100 million on repairs, relatively few of which are urgent, and have more than £75 million of new developments planned
• only six cathedrals still need to carry out major repair programmes in the next 10 years: Canterbury - £16m, York - £8m, Lincoln - £13m or more, Salisbury - £15m, Chichester - £10m, Winchester - £4m
• this leaves the other 55 cathedrals needing to spend an average of less than £1m each over the next 10 years
• given the age, scale and complexity of the buildings, we should expect around £100m of maintenance and cyclical repairs to take place in any ten year period

Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: "Our Fabric Survey shows that cathedral bodies are taking excellent care of the heritage in their keeping. Our new publication shows what can be achieved with the aid of English Heritage advice and by individual cathedrals working with their Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches' governing bodies. Above all it shows that cathedrals continue to evolve, adding to their glories with a thriving tradition of commissioning the highest standards of new architecture, craftsmanship and design. 

"Our first fabric survey in 1991 revealed that many cathedrals were in a dire state. Today, having spent £250 million, they are in much better shape though constant vigilance is still required if these national treasures are not to slip again into decline. English Heritage, recently in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation, has given £52 million and we remain as committed as ever. As a symbol of that commitment, I am delighted to announce today an English Heritage grant of £250,000 towards urgent work at Lincoln."

New Works publication

Lincoln Cathedral - dragon before installation on south-east transept A new English Heritage publication, Creativity and Care: New Works in English Cathedrals, was launched today in association with the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, CoE, and the Roman Catholic Church's Patrimony Committee. It features new works such as the education and music resource centre at Wells, Chester's song school, re-ordering and new confessionals at Leeds, a glaziers' studio at York Minster, mosaics at Westminster Cathedral, disabled access to the shrine at St Alban's and possibly the world's most beautiful fire doors at Winchester. All have been achieved with the help of English Heritage advice.

The report, which has a preface by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of Westminster, explores the way in which cathedrals are succeeding in remaining first and foremost places of Christian worship while also fulfilling roles as cultural centres and tourist attractions. Some of the works result from changes to liturgical practice - the way services are performed - and what today's worshippers want as a focus for their spirituality. The revivifying of Hereford's shrines to its local saints is one example. Some new works result from modern safety and accessibility requirements.

The Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Chairman of the Cathedrals Fabric Commission at the Church of England, said: "Roman Catholic and Anglican cathedral authorities alike are not only custodians of past splendours: they can also be wise and willing midwives to future glories. We hope Creativity and Care will encourage cathedral bodies to think in the boldest terms about their building's future, rather than scale down their ambitions to what they think will be approved."

Dean of Lincoln, the Very Revd Philip Buckler, said: "The announcement by English Heritage that it will continue to support repairs to Lincoln Cathedral's fabric is very significant indeed. Not only does the £250,000 grant for 2010/11 mean that the current works programme can continue, but it is a recognition that a number of England's great cathedrals will need a high level of support for many years to come. Despite its own funding difficulties, English Heritage has recognised the scale of the challenge facing Lincoln Cathedral and has been very innovative and positive in a desire to help us. And it is not only the built heritage that will benefit. Lincoln has an in-house team of craftsmen and women whose skills have been passed on continuously for almost a thousand years. Once lost, these skills can never be recreated. World-class heritage, craft skills and jobs were all at stake in this very welcome decision."

Visitor Survey

The Association of English Cathedrals (AEC) is undertaking a survey of 6,000 visitors and non-visitors to Anglican cathedrals and will announce full results in January. The Very Rev. Christopher Lewis, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, and former Chair of the AEC, said: "We now know that cathedrals are more popular than ever, valued for their history, their architecture and as an oasis of calm in daily life. This is a tremendous achievement considering that while they must do all they can to make all sorts of visitors feel welcome; they also have to ensure they remain Godly places, retaining a living tradition of worship and spirituality at their core."

The publication, Care and Creativity, a gallery of images of new works, information on the Cathedrals Fabric Survey and how to apply for a grant, are all available on - www.english-heritage.org.uk/cathedrals2009. Free hard copies of Care and Creativity can be ordered from English Heritage Customer Services on 0870 333 1181 customers@english-heritage.org.uk