Lottery grant will restore Oxford's tallest spire

Art | University 01 Mar 11 Oxford University's historic University Church of St Mary the Virgin is to undergo its biggest restoration since the late 19th century. A £3.4 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will enable the chancel to be restored to how it was on the eve of the Civil War - though renovations will stop short of filling in the holes left by Cromwell's army's bullets in the Virgin Mary statue. The HLF grant for a full scale conservation and education project will also install a hologram exhibition about the history of the University, the Church and its rich history; and a sound cone will be put in place so that no matter how busy the Church is, the chancel will be a place of silence for reflection and silent prayer. The Revd Dr William Beaver, Associate Priest at St Mary's, said: 'The restoration will be a landmark in the history of this Church and Oxford University. The adjoined Old Congregation House with the Old Library on the first floor is the first building in Oxford University's history, and our restoration aims to emulate this by making St Mary's the first stop on the tourist trial with a hologram exhibition about the history of the University, the town and the Church. 'We will improve access to the Old Congregation House with our immensely popular Vaults and Garden Cafe as well as to the Church tower, which gives visitors stunning panoramic views from Oxford's tallest dreaming spire.