St Paul’s Cathedral Leads Heritage Craft Revival with New Training Centre

Historic Cathedral Launches Groundbreaking Heritage Skills Programme

St Paul’s Cathedral, one of London’s most iconic landmarks, is taking decisive action to preserve Britain’s endangered heritage craft skills. In June 2025, the Cathedral launched a new apprenticeship programme for heritage and endangered craft skills, focusing on nurturing the next generation of skilled craftspeople with apprenticeships in carpentry and stonemasonry.

The apprenticeships are delivered through the newly established Wren Centre of Excellence at St Paul’s Cathedral, which acts as a world-class hub for heritage craft training and innovation. This landmark initiative addresses a critical skills shortage facing Britain’s historic buildings sector.

Addressing a National Crisis in Heritage Skills

The urgency of this programme becomes clear when examining current workforce trends. Currently, for each new heritage carpenter or stonemason trained, seven retire—odds that aren’t in the interest of Britain’s oldest buildings. This alarming ratio threatens the future preservation of historic structures across the United Kingdom.

The apprenticeships offer a unique chance to learn endangered craft skills from St Paul’s Cathedral’s master craftspeople, working within one of the nation’s most iconic buildings. This is a Level 2 apprenticeship lasting 24 months, with training including both on-site experience and college-based learning with the Building Crafts College.

A 350th Anniversary Legacy

The launch of the Wren Centre of Excellence coincides with the 350th anniversary of the foundation of St Paul’s Cathedral and is named in honour of its architect Sir Christopher Wren. This timing symbolises the Cathedral’s commitment to passing on the craft traditions that have maintained the building for over three centuries.

The final designs for the new public square around St Paul’s were officially approved in December 2025. It will cover a whopping 3,500 square metres. These developments demonstrate the Cathedral’s ongoing transformation and its role as a living monument that continues to evolve.

Significance for Future Generations

The Wren Centre of Excellence represents more than just a training facility—it’s an investment in Britain’s architectural heritage. By equipping young people with traditional craft skills, St Paul’s ensures that future generations will possess the knowledge needed to maintain historic buildings nationwide. This programme offers aspiring craftspeople fulfilling careers in a sector facing critical shortages, whilst safeguarding centuries-old techniques for posterity. As the Cathedral welcomes over a million visitors annually, it stands as both a testament to historical craftsmanship and a beacon for its future preservation.