The Dean of Southwark, the Very Rev Colin Slee, will host a topping-out ceremony for Southwark Cathedral's new East Wing on Friday 5 May at 2.30 pm.

The new Wing, part of the development on the north side of the thousand year old Cathedral, is scheduled to open in October 2000. It will make the Cathedral more welcoming, visible and accessible to visitors, especially those who are disabled. There will be a new hi-tech visitor centre, a theological, historical and social concern library, and a refectory wing, and conference facilities will be improved. The Cathedral’s ministry to local people and community needs remains at the heart of the redevelopment.

The exterior of the Cathedral is being cleaned, to reveal the warm honey-coloured stone, and landscaping and lighting will be enhanced. The construction of a cloister and courtyard recreates the original medieval lay-out and provides a major new entrance for visitors approaching from the riverside walk. The Cathedral is in this way playing its part in the cultural, commercial and residential regeneration of the South Bank, alongside the other Millennium projects at the Tate Modern gallery and the Millennium Footbridge.

The £10 million scheme is being funded by a grant of £3.9 million from the Millennium Commission, £1.7 million from the Cathedral's reserves, and donations of over £1.3 million to date.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Media representatives are welcome to the event.

Please contact Anne Burgess, 020-7367 6707, or Patrick Olivier at the numbers given below if you are coming.

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For further information contact: