Cathedrals are well-known for their revered traditions, but the ‘topping out’ of a new Heritage Quad, a new state of the art home for York Minster’s team of stonemasons and heritage craftspeople, is perhaps not the first that springs to mind.

Celebrating the placement of the highest beam in a new building, the ancient rite of topping out can be traced as far back as the 7th century when Scandinavians would place a tree atop a completed building to appease the tree gods of surrounding habitats.

Despite its Norse history, York Minster’s ceremony instead sought God’s blessing on a new home for its stonemasons and craftspeople, built in the shadow of the city walls. The Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, led the blessing ceremony, which was attended by representatives from the diverse organisations who have contributed to the building.

The Heritage Quad is part of the Minster’s ground-breaking Neighbourhood Plan, which is transforming the Minster Precinct to face the challenges of the 21st century. As well as providing state of the art workspaces for the Minster’s masons, the Heritage Quad will include accommodation for apprentices, rooftop solar panels, and rainwater capture systems with the whole Centre built to low energy standards.

The public are already enjoying elements of the Neighbourhood Plan: two new green spaces have been created to the east of the Minster, free for all to enjoy, and the Minster Refectory, opened in spring 2023 by His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla, offers visitors unparalleled views of the Minster.

With the opening of the Heritage Quad, visitors to York will be able to walk the city walls and gaze down into the workshops to see the stonemasons at work in a building that has already won several prizes for its pioneering design.

Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster, said: “This is a symbolic milestone in this incredibly exciting project as we begin the final stages of construction ready for the team to move into their new facilities this Autumn.  This traditional ceremony also gives us an opportunity to thank our many benefactors who have supported York Minster Fund in this fundamentally important project to safeguard the future of York Minster, but the traditional crafts that are needed to care for a complex estate such as this”.