Name that cathedral - the answers

A new grant from English Heritage could help safeguard the future of 28 of the country's most beautiful cathedrals. But can you tell which of them is which?

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
Arts & Ents blogs

Mario & Vidis: An album makes you rethink what you’ve been doing

In 2007 Marijus Adomaitis teamed up with Vidmantas Cepkauskas to form Mario & Vidis – Lithuania...

Beth Jeans Houghton interview: “I hate London”

Falling from the limelight is often damaging to any artist and devastating at the start of a career....

Turbo Records going into overdrive for 2012

Last year I interviewed Tiga, owner of Canadian label Turbo Records, about his ZZT project - which h...

view gallery VIEW GALLERY

Sir John Betjeman once remarked that English cathedrals demonstrated "the supreme art of enclosing space". As a renowned lover of ecclesiastical architecture, he also lamented their neglect. In the preface to one of his many books on buildings, he wrote: "we accept the collapse of the fabrics of our old churches... because we are convinced we must save money".

Today, the late poet laureate will be smiling happily from his resting place in the tiny church of St Enodoc in Cornwall. English Heritage has announced plans to award £2.1m for restoration work to some of the most majestic cathedrals in the land. From crumbling masonry at Peterborough to water seepage at Coventry, some of the country's most awe-inspiring places of worship have been battling weather and the ravages of time. Thanks to the grants, Peterborough will now get £51,500 to help with its walls; Coventry wins £49,000. The biggest awards, of £250,000, go to cathedrals at Lichfield, Lincoln and St Edmundsbury in Suffolk.

Though the cash sounds relatively paltry, the project will be a lifesaver for the threatened jewels in our ecclesiastical crown. English Heritage has been ploughing money into our cathedrals since the early 1990s, when a survey revealed a huge backlog of major repairs that could not be funded. So far, the guardian of some of England's most important buildings has, in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation, awarded almost £50m to our cathedrals.

Dr Simon Thurley, English Heritage chief executive, says it is a small price to pay: "Cathedrals are the princes of English buildings – imposing, stately, even terrifying. A huge amount of work has to go into securing this grandeur and majesty for generations to come. The grants announced today will go some way to helping the custodians of these titans in this task."

Of England's 61 cathedrals, from the smallest at Derby to London's gargantuan St Paul's, a total of 28 will receive cash. All are pictured on these pages. But which is which? Readers who reckon they might be able to tell their Rochester from their Ripon are invited to enter our competition to win one of six copies of a heart-warmingly appropriate hardback prize: The Best Loved Poems of John Betjeman, with a foreword by Barry Humphries. See below for competition details.

The competition is now closed

Six readers chosen at random from those who submitted correct entries will each receive a copy of The Best Loved Poems of John Betjeman, published by John Murray (RRP £9.99). Winners will be informed by email before Friday 22 February.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus

Day In a Page

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

After years of complaints and workers' suicides in China the technology giant faces up to the human cost of its gadgets
Peter Moore: 'I feel guilty I'm the only one alive'

Peter Moore interview

'I feel guilty I'm the only one alive'
Sellafield faces nuclear option as overspending threatens plant's future

Sellafield faces nuclear option

Overspending threatens plant's future
Israel blames Iran for embassy bomb attacks

Israel blames Iran for embassy bomb attacks

Tehran rejects Netanyahu's 'lies' after diplomats in India and Georgia targeted
Former manager enjoying Apoel crack at the big time

Tommy Cassidy interview

Former manager enjoying Apoel crack at the big time
James Lawton: Patience may not be a virtue this time, Roman – Andre Villas-Boas looks all at sea

James Lawton: AVB looks all at sea

Abramovich's visits to training reinforce the idea of a coach feeling pressure from above and below
The 10 Best sledges

The 10 Best sledges

Not all of them require snow...
Procrastination: Not now – I'm busy

Procrastination: Not now – I'm busy

Confronting the real reasons for puttting things off can help us beat it
Fun in the sunset years

Fun in the sunset years

A new movie follows retirees moving to India for low-cost care and a culture of respect for the elderly. For many Britons, it's already a reality
Picture preview: Lucian Freud drawings

Lucian Freud drawings

Picture preview
Silent revolution at the Baftas as the French take top awards

Silent revolution at the Baftas

The Artist wins in seven categories, with Meryl Streep the other big success story
Whitney Houston: The diva who had – and lost – it all

The diva who had – and lost – it all

Nick Hasted charts the highs and lows of Whitney Houston's life
How Picasso won over (some of) the British

How Picasso won over (some of) the British

Winston Churchill and Evelyn Waugh hated his work, but Picasso provided inspiration for a whole generation of UK artists
Topshop: A Decade Of Design

Topshop: A Decade Of Design

When London Fashion Week starts on Friday, Topshop will celebrate 10 years backing its brightest young stars
John Prescott: 'My wife thought I'd just retire, but I'm not a slippers man'

'My wife thought I'd just retire, but I'm not a slippers man'

At 73, John Prescott isn't mellowing. In fact he's taking a shot at becoming a police commissioner