A campaign to raise £50 million to save Canterbury Cathedral from old age and pollution has attracted worldwide interest.
Money has been pledged from all four corners of the globe, with more than £300,000 from individual donors alone.
The cathedral's plight has featured in newspapers in the United States, Canada, Australia, India and even Romania. The plight of the cathedral has also captured the interest of several documentary producers.
Campaigners say the scale of the fundraising has sparked a debate on the lack of government support towards maintaining great cathedrals like Canterbury, a World Heritage Site. In other European countries, such as France and Germany, conservation of important historic buildings is paid for from the public purse.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams said: "I am deeply moved by the overwhelming response to this vital fundraising campaign from so many people around the world.
"Our great cathedral at Canterbury welcomes visitors from every continent whatever their faith or creed and the ongoing programme of conservation and development needs urgent support if this is to continue."
David Innes, chief executive of the Canterbury Cathedral Development Office, said: "We have been greatly encouraged by the amount of good will shown by so many donors throughout the world."
POSTED: 08/11/2006 15:20:15
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