The Dean & Chapter of Canterbury has appointed Jonathan Deeming as its new Surveyor of the Fabric.
Mr Deeming succeeds John Burton who retires at the end of this year. He works in their Canterbury office of architectural practice Purcell. Martin Stancliffe, a former Surveyor to the Fabric of St Paul’s Cathedral, will act as the cathedral’s consultant architect.
Mr Deeming has previously worked on Wells Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral, as well as the Houses of Parliament, Ampleforth Abbey, and Chatham Historic Dockyard. He trained at Nottingham University, becoming a Master of Architecture, and has since achieved qualification as an architect accredited in building conservation.
The Surveyor of the Fabric is responsible for preparing a survey of the cathedral every five years, assessing the state of repair of the structure and making recommendations about the priority for repairs to the building. He is also responsible for health and safety issues, fire audits and disaster planning, and making representations to local and national planning and conservation committees.
Mr Deeming said: “Canterbury Cathedral holds a very special place in my heart. Here is concentrated more than 1,400 years of history, faith and magnificent architecture set within a richly varied but tranquil cathedral precincts. It is an immense privilege and honour to be able to devote my time and energy to its care and conservation, to help meet the challenges of the 21st century, thus ensuring that the cathedral and its precincts remain a very special place to each and every visitor and pilgrim”.
The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, added: “We received some very high quality applicants for the post of Surveyor to the Fabric, yet all were agreed that Jo was outstanding in his vision and appreciation of the uniqueness of Canterbury Cathedral, and the way it matters to people from all over the globe. I look forward immensely to working with him and his colleagues”.
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