Work starts on £700,000 Rotherham Minster project

The £700,000 project will include seating, planting, lighting and paving added around the imposing All Saints’ Minster Church.

The entrance to the yard will be extended and the stone boundary wall on Church Street will be curved to make it more “inviting”.

The Vicar of Rotherham, Rev Canon David Bliss, is delighted to see the work taking place.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to seeing the end result because I think it will really enhance the church.

“I hope the people of Rotherham will be pleased too and that they bear with us while the works take place.”

Archaeological and preparatory work took place in the Minster grounds this spring. Old trees were removed and new ones planted.

Just before Christmas, a £150,000 scheme to light up the Minster at night, was also unveiled.

It is all part of a £3.5 million Townscape Heritage Initiative supported by cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Rotherham Borough Council and Yorkshire Forward.

The contractors will use the former All Saints’ site opposite as a compound for storing materials and equipment during the six months duration of the works. 

A council spokesman said: “Other sites were considered for this but it makes sense to use the All Saints’ site.

“It is convenient and means the equipment does not detract from the new businesses in the area and does not interfere with the normal operations of the church and access to it.”