The St George’s Cathedral is structurally sound and the cost to repair its mostly exterior decay could be in the vicinity of US$1.6 million, according to Dean of Georgetown Rev Paul Andrew Carto.
Carto, who is also Rector of St George’s Cathedral, told Stabroek News that an architectural firm out of Grenada did an assessment of the building and presented its findings. He said according to the report from the firm, structurally the building is “sound.” He added that most of what is seen is exterior decay as a result of the weather and age.
He further noted that the firm indicated in the report that without being able to do an indepth study of the roof, where he opined the most problems are, the cost of repair could be in the vicinity of US$1.6 million. However, Carto pointed out that the figure is just an estimate and that cost could easily go up, “once you start going into the finer details.”
This publication understands that the roof of the building leaks. Visits to the landmark church revealed broken windows as well as rotting wood.
Asked about the progress being made to accumulate the sum needed through fund-raising activities, Carto said, “This problem with the cathedral would not be sorted out by barbecues and cake sales; that is serious money we are talking about.”
A committee is in the process of being established to advise the bishop and the vestry of the cathedral on the way forward. He further mentioned that talks have already begun with people in the diaspora and international organisations, who have indicated an interest in assisting with the rehabilitation of the national monument.
He said work has been completed on the east wall and that the next phase of the work will be the north wall.
“We are hoping to start that process…,” he said, while interactions with international organisations are ongoing. “We really can’t do that work and complete it in my lifetime if we try to do it through barbecue and cake sales” Carto opined.
When asked if the proceeds from the sale of St Barnabas Church could be used to fund the rehabilitation of St George’s, Carto said that money has been lodged with the “trustees, because all of the properties, every aspect of the physical property of the Anglican churches in the diocese is vested in the incorporated trustees.”
Moreover he said that that will be taken into consideration. However, he noted that as important as the cathedral is, there are other churches in the diocese also in need of repairs.
Although Carto did not name the churches in need of repairs, he did point out that the St Phillip’s and Christ Church have already been repaired. He said work had been going on, “it’s just that these things, apart from taking time, take money.”
He added, “As much as we would like to think that this money is hidden away in some vault some place waiting to be used, the reality is that it isn’t there… and each year it is not done, the cost goes up.”
