During the next two years many contributors to the general fund for the restoration, and some others, made gifts of special objects for the embellishment of the choir.  By the end of May, 1892, the mosaic pavement was almost completed, and the bishop’s throne, the pulpit, the litany desk, and eighteen stalls had been erected.  These gifts were solemnly dedicated at a stately service held on June 2nd, when, after the litany and an anthem, the special service was taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the altar, and after that Te Deum was sung.  A sermon was preached by the Bishop of Durham, formerly Canon.  The Archbishop and Bishops wore their convocation robes.

Two years later the fitting up of the choir was very nearly complete, four stalls only remaining to be supplied.  At a second dedication of gifts on May 10th, 1894, these additional gifts were in position; new organ and case, canopied reredos, retable, iron screens inclosing the four eastern bays of the choir, pillars and choir gates (part of a design for an elaborate screen), eight stalls, extension of mosaic pavement, fourteen sub-stalls and seats for lay-clerks and choristers, altar-rails, and credence table.  Up to this date, since the commencement of the restoration in 1883, upwards of L32,400 had been expended upon the fabric, besides more than L17,800 upon the internal fittings of the choir.  All the woodwork of the choir is now quite complete.

In speaking of the repairs carried out on the west front at the end of the nineteenth century we touch on a matter which gave rise to no little controversy.  The insecure state of the west front had been known for years.  In the early part of 1896, a scaffold was raised in order to enable Mr Pearson, the architect of the cathedral, to make a complete examination of the front, special causes for alarm having lately been detected.  At first it was believed that underpinning the central piers would secure the stability of the whole.  This was done, as well as the shoring and strutting to the gables of the two outer arches.  The clearing away of the dirt and rubbish, and the cleaning of the groining, disclosed greater danger than had been expected, and the architect recommended the rebuilding of parts of the gables.  Before acting on this advice the Restoration Committee took the opinion of Sir A.W.  Blomfield, and his report not only confirmed the opinion expressed by Mr Pearson, but said further that much of the superstructure was so disintegrated, that it was impossible to render substantial and lasting repair as it stood, “and that the inner parts of the walls were such as would not permit of the superstructure being preserved or successfully dealt with by any of the well-known expedients frequently recommended and sometimes employed with success.”  When it became generally known that the Dean and Chapter intended to act upon the advice given in these two reports, the knowledge created the greatest possible excitement.  Other plans