John Burton, an internationally known architect who serves as Surveyor of the Fabric at Canterbury Cathedral and Surveyor Emeritus of Westminster Abbey, will share his experiences in preserving these iconic buildings with the West Virginia University and Morgantown communities in an upcoming lecture.

Burton’s lecture will be held on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Theatre on High Street.

The free event is hosted by the Division of Design and Merchandising in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design.

As someone who has been responsible for a number of the United Kingdom’s greatest historic buildings, he will provide insight on his approach to the preservation of buildings and their contents. He’ll also discuss the pageantry involved with being a Freeman of the City of London and a master of a medieval company.

This will be Burton’s second visit to the area. In 2005, he gave a classroom lecture on the practices of historic preservation and restoration to students in the Division of Design and Merchandising, as well as a public presentation on the same topic.

“Our culture, hopes, and dreams, our story of who we are and what we value, is firmly rooted in our past. That past must be preserved or restored to lend meaning to our present,” said Barbara McFall, director of the Division. “Mr. Burton has a wealth of knowledge as it pertains to historic preservation and restoration, and we’re delighted to welcome him to Morgantown once again.”

Burton began his career as an assistant to Donovan Purcell, founding partner of Purcell, a United Kingdom architectural firm specializing in conservation and preservation, conserving Ely Cathedral and many National Trust properties. Currently a partner in the firm, he has helped shape the practice over the last 42 years into one of the leading conservation practices in the UK.

In 1990, he was appointed Surveyor of the Fabric of Canterbury Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Church of England, and charged with maintaining the Cathedral and its contents in an acceptable condition for worship as the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

In 1999, Burton was appointed Surveyor of the Fabric of Westminster Abbey, a Church with Royal Peculiar status and the setting for great events in Great Britain’s pageantry. During his tenure he was responsible for the building’s conservation and repair – including at the time of the Royal wedding. He retired from this post earlier this year.

He has also led successful efforts to save small redundant country churches.
For more information on the event, contact the Division at 304-293-3402.

-WVU-

law/9/27/12

CONTACT: Barbara McFall, Director of the Division of Design and Merchandising
304-293-3402, Barbara.McFall@mail.wvu.edu

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