1800 chairs are required to re-furnish the whole Cathedral. The project is being undertaken in stages, starting with the main nave. As funds become available, chairs will be added in other areas. It is hoped to complete the project by 2005, the 75th anniversary of the Friends.
For June 2004 Progress Report please click here.

The Cathedral is host to many different events. Chairs often need to be moved or removed and stacked. Storage space is very limited. The former chairs needed to be replaced. After much research, the Chapter chose the Howe 40/4 as the new chair. It has been in production since 1964 and is used in St Paul's Cathedral, and worldwide. It is strong and comfortable and the seat is 2" (50mm) wider and 3" (75mm) deeper than that of the previous chair. It is light and can be linked in rows. The Howe chairs for Salisbury Cathedral are being specially made in English Oak. Purpose-built trolleys, movable by one person, accommodate 160 chairs. This is an important health and safety consideration for our vergers and caretakers. Chairs can be moved efficiently, and storage space is kept to the minimum.

Can you make an important contribution to our Cathedral by sponsoring a chair? Each chair - or more than one if you wish - may bear a plaque inscribed with the name requested by the sponsor. This could be your own name; the name of a church or parish, club, school, company, local authority or any other similar organisation; or it might be to commemorate someone.

Those sponsoring a row of eight chairs - the configuration for major services and concerts - will become Honorary Life Members of the Friends.

If you would like to support the project but can only donate a small amount, this will be equally welcome. Chairs purchased from such donations will bear a 'Friends of Salisbury Cathedral' plaque.

A list of all sponsors and donors will be specially bound and placed in the Cathedral archive.

If possible, please make your contribution under the Gift Aid scheme by completing the appropriate box on the form. This will enable the Friends to reclaim basic rate tax on the amount you give. To qualify, you must pay an amount of UK income tax and/or capital gains tax equal to the tax which we will reclaim.

US taxpayers qualify for 501(c)(3) treatment: please ask the Friends' Office for the special form.

Should the total of funds subscribed exceed the total cost of the project, any excess will be added to the Friends' general funds for the Cathedral's benefit.

To sponsor a chair, or make a donation, please click here and print the form.

The Howe 40/4 chair was created by American designer David Rowland in 1962 and has been in continuous production since 1964 with over 7 million chairs sold. It has been made under licence by Howe in Denmark for the European market since 1973. The Howe 40/4 has won many design awards including the prestigious Milan Triennale in 1964. It is also in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

"These carefully designed and comfortable chairs will revolutionise the way we use, move and store the Cathedral's supply of 1800 seats for the many services, events and organisations that use the Cathedral."
Chris Crooks, Head Verger

"The new chair will offer a well designed alternative with greatly improved comfort. It will be easy for the vergers and caretakers to handle, will stack tightly and so be easily stored in a cathedral that is remarkably lacking in storage space.
"Its framework will reveal rather than obscure the stone floor, making the interior of the Cathedral appear lighter."
Michael Drury, Cathedral Architect

Conditions

1. Once sponsored, the chair will become the property of the Cathedral. Sponsorship of a chair does not entitle the sponsor to any special admission or seating rights.
2. The chairs are designed so that they may be moved and stacked where necessary. There is therefore no undertaking to keep a sponsored chair in any part of, or position in, the Cathedral.
3. While the chairs are expected to last for many years and every effort will be made to avoid damage, no guarantee can be given that any one chair will be in the Cathedral for any specific period of time.
4. The Friends reserve the right to have the final say as to what may be inscribed on the plaque.

The Friends of Salisbury Cathedral
52 The Close
Salisbury
SP1 2EL

Tel: 01722 335 161
Email: friends@salcath.co.uk

Registered Charity No: 243439