THE WREN CHAPTER HOUSE
RENOVATION PROJECT
In London, at a focal point on Paternoster Square between St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Stock Exchange, stands a small Wren-designed building with the potential for becoming an eye-catching and noteworthy gem. Built between 1712 and 1714, and passed each day by thousands of people, this small building houses the nerve center of one of the great and beloved enterprises of the City of London, whose mission is to serve the life of the City, the nation and the world.
Wren’s Chapter House is not a religious structure. That structure, built to the glory of God, is St Paul’s Cathedral itself. Besides its spiritual function, St Paul’s performs essential cultural, educational, civic and social outreach missions. If St Paul’s is the stage, Wren’s Chapter House is the nerve center where the stage management occurs. Wren’s Chapter House drives the operations of the cathedral.
More specifically, St Paul’s holds over 1,700 services, concerts and events throughout the year attended by a total audience of over a million. A dozen prestigious lectures and debates are organized by the St Paul’s Institute and Forum, attended by over 10,000 people. Every year, over 30,000 young students, many from the more disadvantaged areas of Greater London are welcomed through the cathedral’s Education and Community division. St Paul’s services over 100 corporate events in addition to welcoming almost two million visitors and pilgrims into the cathedral every year. Every significant decision affecting each of these functions is taken in Wren’s Chapter House.
Today, with its stately brick and stone façade sadly tarnished by grime, and its interior in pressing need of structural and functional modernization, Wren’s Chapter House offers a high visibility and high impact project for any charitably-minded party wishing to benefit, and become associated with benefiting the life of London, Britain and the world. The overall cost of the project is estimated at £4,500,000 ($7,250,000). Of this total, £2,500,000 ($4,110,000) is already in hand or pledged. It remains to raise £2,000,000 ($3,140,000). The renovation of Wren’s Chapter House constitutes a rare philanthropic opportunity.
WREN'S CHAPTER HOUSE
Built between 1712 and 1714 by Sir Christopher Wren on the north side of the cathedral, where it straddles St Paul’s Churchyard and Paternoster Square, the current Chapter House replaced its predecessor which was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Although the cathedral itself famously survived a direct hit during the Blitz in 1940, the Chapter House was gutted by a severe fire, caused by enemy bombing, destroying the majority of Wren’s original exterior. Rebuilt during the financial austerity of the 1950s, the building has remained virtually untouched for 60 years. All resources have been concentrated on conserving and maintaining St Paul’s Cathedral itself to ensure that it can fulfill its role as the nation’s church and spiritual home to people from across the globe.
THE PROJECT
Wren’s Chapter House urgently needs a full renovation: internally to re-configure its layout, making it compliant with modern legislation and accessibility, fit for purpose; externally, to restore it to its original Wren exterior.
The essential works within the confines of this listed building include:
· Creation of a new, third floor suitable for a twenty-first century working environment
· Construction of a new lead roof
· Full disabled access, including the creation of a lift to service all floors and a new ‘assisted’ front entrance
· Complete rewiring and asbestos removal to create safe working spaces
· Extensive external cleaning and repairs
· Eco cooling and heating systems including conservation grade double glazing
· Dining facilities providing opportunities for corporate dining with serviced kitchens – companies that support this campaign will have exclusive access to beautiful spaces within the heart of the City for the first time