Cathedral sells LEGO Bricks for extortionate prices

Alex: So, what’s this I’m hearing about expensive LEGO bricks?

Catherine: We’re building Durham Cathedral in LEGO to support our major development project ‘Open Treasure’.

The 300,000 brick model will be as accurate a scale representation of the Cathedral as possible, spanning 3.84 metres in length, 1.53 metres wide and 1.7 metres in height. For every £1.00 donated, one LEGO brick will be added to the model Cathedral.

Tragic, wouldn’t even fit in my box room. But can you briefly explain what the ‘Open Treasure’ Project is about?

‘Open Treasure’ is a major development project, which aims to transform the experience of those visiting Durham Cathedral.  New exhibition spaces will allow the Cathedral to display more of the treasures in its internationally important collection, which it currently lacks both the space and specialist facilities to do.

The project will also develop the Cathedral’s social and economic contribution to local communities and North East England through employment, partnership and outreach, and by raising the profile of Durham City and County as a visitor destination.

More tourists, phenomenal. So who had the idea to build a LEGO Cathedral in the first place?

It was first discussed by some members of the team at the Cathedral who were involved with the planning of Open Treasure, and then a new starter who also liked Lego suggested it as well.

And how’s it all coming along?

Since the first brick was laid on 11 July over 34,000 bricks have been sold and the construction of the model is now over 10% complete.

Not half bad. And what was it like to have Jonathan Foyle, celebrated advocate for heritage sites, laying the first Lego brick? 

We were delighted that Jonathan accepted our invitation to lay the first brick.  The World Monument Fund, of which Jonathan is the Chief Executive, ran a successful project across the North East this summer and the brick laying coincided with a visit to the region. We are extremely grateful for his participation in our LEGO project, which in turn will help visitors enjoy the Cathedral and be inspired by it.

TV presenter Jonathan Foyle & the Dean of Durham buy the first bricks, with lego expert Ed Diment

Have any Lego enthusiasts in the Cathedral come out of the woodwork?

Our Lego team consists of a wide range of Lego enthusiasts from across the region but also includes a number of people who are simply passionate about the Cathedral and its mission.  One of our Lego volunteers is also a lay clerk at the Cathedral.

I guess the real enthusiasts would just go to Legoland™. When can the public come and see both the completed cathedral and the ‘Open Treasure’ Project?

The ‘Open Treasure’ project is already underway.  Visitors to the Cathedral can see the results of the first phase of the project by visiting the newly refurbished Cathedral Shop in the medieval Undercroft.

It is estimated that the entire project will be completed by 2015. The LEGO Cathedral should also be completed by 2015.

2015, the year when Legoland™ go bust. You heard it here first.

If you want to keep up-to-date with the progress of the LEGO Cathedral, you can do so at www.durhamcathedral.co.uk, by visiting the model in the Undercroft foyer, by watching the LEGO Cathedral grow on Facebook or even on Twitter, #durhamcathedralLEGObuild.

You can say what you like about the church, but they do know how to put together a catchy hashtag.