Leicester Cathedral Starts Preparation for Richard III Interment

From Leicester Cathedral: Liz Hudson, Director of Communications:

The cathedral has been working hard on initial plans and we are now announcing the first major step in the process. 

A date has been set – 12th March – when the Architects brief will be agreed by the Cathedral Chapter, with whom the decision about a final memorial legally lies. This brief will then be made public.

King Richard III will be interred inside the cathedral in a place of honour.  There is already a lot of interest expressed about the location and about the nature and character of the lasting memorial. 

There is an agreed process to make this decision and it will ensure all views are heard and considered. No proposals will be considered outside of this process.This process will give us a design that will be appropriate for a working, public, worshipping cathedral and for all those who come in future generations to visit King Richard’s final resting place. 

We will take note of any proposals made by others including those of the Richard III Society.  The decision process will come to its own conclusions, and until then no agreement has been made about any proposed tomb. 

Following the Cathedral Chapter meeting, the architects will be commissioned and they, with the designers, will have approximately three months to respond to the brief.  

We will then consult with partners including the University of Leicester, Leicester City Council and the Richard III Society.  

 The design will need to be agreed by the Cathedral Chapter and the Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee before a formal application is made to the Cathedral Fabric Commission for England probably in the autumn of 2013.

 The Cathedral is looking forward to continuing to work together with all the parties in partnership in order to arrive at a fitting memorial.

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