Building work at St Albans Cathedral enters new phase

Work on St Albans Cathedral has entered a new phase, which was marked by a visit from the Dean of St Albans Cathedral, the Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John.

Thomas Sinden has been appointed as principal contractor for the expansion and renovation of one of the nation’s highest profile Cathedrals. The contractor is currently working on the construction of a new single storey Heritage Lottery Funded Welcome Centre, which will sympathetically connect the main Grade I listed Cathedral to its 1980s Chapter House building.

As part of the visit the Dean laid a number of bricks in place in what will be the new Vestry. Speaking of the progress of the project and his visit to the site of the new Welcome Centre, the Dean said, “Progress on the building of the new Welcome Centre is striking. The walls are rising fast and the progress will be interesting to watch in the coming months. Meanwhile, behind the scenes the huge amount of research and collaboration which will bring our heritage to life is moving to the production stage. The text of our new interpretation panels, after months and months of work, is nearing final form.”

Set within the archaeologically sensitive ‘Monk’s Graveyard’ site in Sumpter Yard, the Welcome Centre will provide a new visitor entrance, retail space, interpretation and exhibition areas, the relocated vestry, and provide new level access.  Alterations to the Chapter House interiors are also being undertaken to renovate the existing café, provide additional education spaces, and improve accessibility at all levels through the creation of new lift access and washroom facilities.

Graeme Sinden, Director of Thomas Sinden comments,  “The laying of these bricks by the Dean marks the next stage of the work we are carrying out to build a brand new Welcome Centre which will sympathetically connect the Grade I listed Cathedral to the 1980s Chapter House Building. We have a proven track record of delivering high profile heritage projects and are extremely proud to be the principal contractor on the renovation of one of the nation’s highest profile cathedrals.”

On the Welcome Centre’s new facilities, the Dean said, “it will be bright and welcoming, with views through the ceiling up to the Tower and from the Slype onto the orchard, with a newly refurbished shop and café and new information screens to guide visitors around the building.”

Since the Dean’s visit, even more visible progress has been made. The flint and red brick walls are going up with speed, the roof beams are being installed and the stone pillars forming the new Slype windows are in place.

The new building is part of a major redevelopment programme which will boost awareness of the historic church’s 1,700-year history.  The church was built on the burial site of Alban – Britain’s first Christian martyr.  The ancient structure is thought to be Britain’s first Christian shrine and the country’s longest serving centre of Christian worship.

The project will create a new exhibition focussing on the unique history of the church which currently receives 160,000 visitors a year.  The main Cathedral and Deanery buildings remain open to staff and the public throughout the duration of works.