Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for Arts and Culture

Thursday 28 April 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Church Commissioners and Cathedral Music Trust supported cathedral choirs in 2020
  • Funding was provided to support heritage skills including stonemasons and glaziers
  • The culture recovery fund provided over 60 million for 580 churches and cathedrals

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Michael Fabricant Con
Culture, Media & Sport Religion & Faith
Context

The question arises from initiatives taken by the Church of England to support cultural heritage, including cathedral choirs and historical preservation skills.

Question

What recent steps has the Church of England taken to support arts and culture; and if he will make a statement.

Answer from Andrew Selous

The Church Commissioners, alongside the Cathedral Music Trust, supported cathedral choirs in 2020. Funding was also provided to support the heritage skills of stonemasons, glaziers and others. The culture recovery fund provided more than £60 million for 580 churches and cathedrals, and a partnership with the Wolfson Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust and the National Churches Trust has provided grants to pay for the care of historic interiors and collections.

Answered
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Q2 Michael Fabricant Con
Culture, Media & Sport Religion & Faith
Context

Following praise for initiatives by the Church of England, the questioner invites the answering Member of Parliament to visit the Lichfield cathedral and attend the Lichfield festival.

Question

I am grateful for that answer. I do not always praise the Church of England, but I praise it for these initiatives. My hon. Friend will know what a beautiful city Lichfield is, as I hope you may find out soon, Mr Speaker—I will say no more on that. The cathedral is beautiful, too, and it is not only used for worship; it is also used for the wonderful Lichfield festival. May I invite my hon. Friend to come to the Lichfield festival to see and hear for himself what goes on in that beautiful cathedral?

Answer from Andrew Selous

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I am pleased to learn that Lichfield cathedral is the main venue for the Lichfield festival. Having seen pictures of the stunning light displays, I would very much like to visit. I pay tribute again to my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) for being such a champion for his cathedral, as well as all things Lichfield. I encourage the Members of Parliament for the other 41 cathedrals to follow his example and champion their cathedrals in the way he champions his.

Not addressed: The MP did not commit to visiting or making a statement, instead praising the questioner's advocacy for Lichfield cathedral.

How: Pay Tribute, Encourage Other Mps

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