New Surveyor of the Fabric appointed at Canterbury Cathedral

Jonathan Deeming has been appointed by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury as the new Surveyor of the Fabric of Canterbury Cathedral.

Jo, an Architect based at Purcell’s Canterbury studio, 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 qualified as an Architect Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC). Martin Stancliffe, a former Surveyor to the Fabric of St Paul’s Cathedral and Partner at Purcell, will act as the Cathedral’s Consultant Architect.

Jo will succeed John Burton MBE who is retiring at the end of the year after nearly a quarter of a century in the post. John, who remains a Partner of Purcell, commented: I’m proud to say I leave with the Cathedral leading the way in conservation, as the Mother Church should do. The team which I have been associated with on a weekly basis is extremely well attuned to caring for this most outstanding building”.

The Surveyor to the Fabric role is wide ranging and complex. Jo will be responsible for preparing the Cathedral’s quinquennial inspections and assessing the state and priority of repairs. In addition, he is responsible for health and safety issues, fire audits and disaster planning, and making representations to local and national planning and conservation committees.

Jo 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 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”.