Cathedral wins pounds 2m lottery grant

Canterbury Cathedral received the biggest grant in a National Lottery Heritage Fund payout today, a pounds 2.5m award for a new education centre. It is the first big development within the ancient cathedral grounds and church authorities claim it will boost the 2 million people who already visit the city each year.

The grant matches cash raised by cathedral authorities to begin the first phase of a pounds 7.5m development in the precincts of the Kent cathedral site aimed at children and young people. Designed by the architect Sir William Whitfield, the complex includes a 250-seat auditorium, two state-of-the- art audio visual theatres and conference and exhibition facilities.