Background:
Zanzibar Cathedral
Zanzibar achieved World Heritage status in 2000. The Cathedral, built to celebrate the end of the slave trade, is one of its listed buildings. It is a remarkable building, reflecting an unusual combination of Perpendicular Gothic and Islamic details. It was technically ahead of its time; Bishop Steere chose a concrete roof to avoid problems with insect attack, at a time when reinforced concrete technology was in its infancy. In recent years there has been movement in the building and the roof is starting to fail. CED engineers have visited and produced a design using tension steel ties to prevent further movement.
The vision, once the building is structurally sound, is to start a Craft School built on the foundation of the work of the Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority.
We are presently looking for funders for the project; re-tiling the roof and inserting steel ties will cost around £250,000 and the total project over six years will require around £1.5m. At the end of that period we’d hope to have a sustainable building school with links to Western schools, presiding over a well maintained monument and supporting conservation work elsewhere on the island.
If you’d like to support the project please press here:
There is further information about the Cathedral at the Friends of Zanzibar Cathedral website:www.zanzibarfriends.org
4 Comments
August 2010 and the project is starting to move. While funds are scarce, we’ve decided to press on and organise the structural repairs to the roof. Ian will visit this month to discuss the details whilst in Africa on other CED business.
August 2011 and sadly there has been no real progress. We’re pleased that more and more people are showing concern but still do not have sufficient funds to make a start.
I read about the project with interest.
I am a registered Architect and Construction Project Manager and practicing residing in the Karoo in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.Not a great distance from the site.
I too share the same Christian beliefs and aminvolved in a number of Heritage restoration projects especially of National importance and of world Heritage status
Anythingf I can contribute to make this project happen let me know. It has been set upon my heart to ensure that the cathedral remains a beacon ohf hope in a sea of uncertainty.
Hi Elwyn,
thanks for your offer to help. At present the big challenge is raising the needed funds… I’ll e-mail you to discuss the project separately.