Mindful Minster
Discover York Minster, a building which has brought those who enter a moment of peace for over 8 centuries, in calm conditions as part of the cathedral’s activities for Autism Acceptance Week.
Mindful Minster will take place on Wednesday 29 March, Thursday 30 March and Friday 31 March from 9.30am to 11.30am, and 3.00pm to 4.00pm.
During these ‘Relaxed Hours’, visitor capacity will be reduced, with noise and light levels lowered so those with neurodiverse conditions (including autism and other sensory processing difficulties) can explore comfortably, free from the hustle and bustle of the general public.
All are welcome to come and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and explore the building’s magnificent architecture, or simply take some time-out from busy, daily life.
Mindful Minster is part of York Minster’s usual visitor opening and normal ticketing applies. Entry is free for children and York residents with valid proof of address.
Find out more about Autism Acceptance Week at York Minster here.
*Please note, no guided tours will take place during these hours, but session guiding will be available.*
Choral Evensong with British Sign Language interpretation
Services provide the daily rhythm to life at York Minster and everyone is welcome to attend. As part of the cathedral’s activity for Autism Acceptance Week, two services of Choral Evensong will include British Sign Language interpretation to allow those with hearing impairments to join our worship.
The services, which will take place on Wednesday 29 March at 5.30pm and Sunday 2 April at 4.00pm, are sung by the Choir of York Minster and take place in the cathedral’s atmospheric Quire.
Interpreters will be available before the service to help worshippers find their seats, and will provide interpretation throughout Choral Evensong. All are welcome, no booking required.
The service on Sunday 2 April will also be livestreamed via our YouTube channel.
Find out more about Autism Acceptance Week at York Minster here.
Ash Wednesday
Lent, Holy Week and Easter lie at the heart of the Christian faith. Come and share this time together as our vast sacred spaces are brought to life with the glory of seasonal worship and music.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent – a season of reflection, penitence and fasting, and of preparation for Easter. The Imposition of Ashes will take place during our services of Holy Communion – the ashes are blessed and the sign of the cross is made, in ash, on the forehead of worshippers.
Ash is a sign of mortality – a reminder that we shall all die. The sign of the cross reminds us of Jesus’ death – which was followed by his being raised to new life. Ash Wednesday reminds us that through ‘dying’ to all that is self-centred in our lives, we may, through faith in Jesus, share in the fullness of life he came to bring.
The Minster is given to prayer and worship today. All are welcome, whether to join acts of worship, to pray on their own or to experience the space.
Service times and Imposition of Ashes:
- 7.30am: Matins
- 7.50am: Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes
- 12noon: Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes
- 4.00pm: Evening Prayer (Said)
- 5.30pm: Choral Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes (with Allegri’s Miserere)
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter Day. On this day we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
10.30am: Procession and Eucharist for Palm Sunday
The service will begin outside the Minster on the South Piazza when a procession led by a donkey leads the congregation into the cathedral via the West End. The Eucharist will include the Passion Gospel, sung by the Choir of York Minster, and the blessing of palm crosses, as a reminder of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, and what would come afterwards. This service turns from triumph to sorrow, marking the beginning of Jesus’ journey towards the cross.
Part of this service will also be livestreamed from inside the Minster via our YouTube channel.
4.00pm: Choral Evensong
A service of Choral Evensong which prepares us for our walk with Christ through Holy Week.
This service will also be livestreamed via our YouTube channel.
7.30pm: Stainer’s Crucifixion
The Ebor Singers, an associate choir of York Minster, will perform John Stainer’s Crucifixion. The work incorporates congregational hymns with a recounting of the passion of Christ.
Handel’s Messiah
Experience Handel’s popular oratorio performed by the Choir of York Minster and internationally renowned soloists in the spectacular setting of York Minster’s Nave.
It will be the first time the choir has performed the piece since December 2019, and the first time in recent years that they have staged the moving and poignant choral performance, which tells the story of Christ, during the season of Lent and Easter.
The choir will be joined by an orchestra and world renowned soloists Keri Fuge (Soprano), Ed Lyon (Tenor), Victoria Simmonds (Mezzo-Soprano) and Morgan Pearse (Baritone) for the concert.
The famous work was first performed in Dublin in 1742 and has since become one of the best-known and most popular English oratorios.
Tickets are available now via the links below or by calling 01904 557200.
Reserved tickets in the Front Nave are £30 and Rear Nave are £18.50. To book Reserved Seating click HERE
Unreserved tickets in the Side Aisles are £12.50 with a concession rate for under 27s of £5. To book Unreserved Seating click HERE
Soloists
Keri Fuge, Soprano 
British soprano Keri Fuge is in demand for her work in opera, concert and recital. She sings regularly in many major European opera houses as well as with orchestra and choirs throughout the UK and further afield.
Recent and future engagements include Créuse / Médée for Grand Théâtre de Genève, Sophie / Werther, Zerlina / Don Giovanni and Noemie / Cendrillon all for the Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Vivaldi Gloria with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Angel / It’s a Wonderful Life for English National Opera, Sorceress / Dido and Aeneas with the Opéra de Luxembourg, Elijah with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Messiah with various orchestras in the UK including La Nuova Musica , the King’s Consort, at the Royal Albert Hall, York Minster and with the Hallé as well as in Germany with the NDR Symphony, Handel’s Parnasso in Festa in the London Handel Festival, Acis and Galatea with the Bach Akademie Stuttgart and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Hermann Wuthering Heights in a concert performance with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra as well as for a recording and a concert tour with Academy of Ancient Music, Tim Mead and Christian Curnyn.
Ed Lyon, Tenor
Ed Lyon studied at St John’s College Cambridge, the Royal Academy of Music and the National Opera Studio. He has a wide repertoire ranging from the baroque to contemporary music and has appeared in many of the world’s leading opera and concert venues including the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne, Bayerische Staatsoper, Dutch National Opera, Teatro Real, Edinburgh, Aix, Salzburg, Holland and Aldeburgh Festivals and the BBC Proms.
Highlights have included the main role in Denisov’s L’écume des jours (Stuttgart Opera), Steva/Jenufa (Opera North), Lurcanio / Ariodante, Steurerman / Der fliegende Holländer and Walther /Tannhäuser (ROH), Don Ottavio/Don Giovanni and Lurcanio (Scottish Opera), Jaquino/Fidelio (Madrid) and Alessandro / Eliogabolo for Dutch National Opera. Recent and future engagements include Tamino/Die Zauberflöte, Don Gomez / Henry VIII (La Monnaie), Septimius / Theodora (Covent Garden and Madrid), Lurcanio (New Israeli Opera) Belmonte / Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail and the main singer in Clorinda Agonistes (The Grange Festival), Quint / The Turn of the Screw and the title role in Orfeo for Garsington, Eduardo/ Ades’ Exterminating Angel (Salzburg Festival and ROH), title role in Candide (WNO), performances worldwide of The Diary of One who Disappeared in a staged production with Musiktheater Transparent, Ferdinand / Miranda (Oper Köln). Concert work includes Evangelist / St Matthew Passion with the Bach Choir, Evangelist and arias / St John Passion with the RLPO, War Requiem with the NDR Hanover and the RLPO, a tour of Europe and US performing Beethoven 9 with the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra / Sir John Eliot Gardiner, The Apostles with the Hallé Orchestra / Sir Mark Elder, as well as many concert performances with leading orchestras and ensembles internationally.
His recording 17th Century Playlist with the Theatre of the Ayre has received wide acclaim. Photo credit Gerard Collett.
Victoria Simmonds, Mezzo-Soprano
Victoria Simmonds studied with David Pollard at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has sung numerous roles at all of the major UK opera companies including Fox The Cunning Little Vixen and Meg Page Falstaff (Garsington), Boy Way Back Home (ENO), Angel 2/Marie Written on Skin (Netherlands Opera, Toulouse, Lisbon, Opéra Comique Paris, Royal Opera House, La Scala Milan, Lincoln Centre New York, Wiener Festwochen, Bavarian State Opera Munich and a European Tour with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra)/ Angelna Cenerentola (Danish National Opera) and Hippolyta A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Scottish Opera) and for Opera Holland Park Minskwoman Flight (2015), Angelina (2016), Marcellina Le nozze di Figaro (2021), and Alma March, Little Women (2002). Photo credit Mat Smith Photography.
Morgan Pearse, Baritone
Morgan Pearse is one of the most exciting baritones of his generation. He studied at the Royal College of Music where he won the Lies Askonas Prize and Gold Medal at the Royal Over Seas League Competition. He went on to become a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio and made his UK debut at English National Opera singing Figaro / Barber of Seville.
Recent and future opera highlights include Figaro / Le nozze di Figaro, Papageno / Die Zauberflöte and Araspe / Tolomeo (Staatstheater Karlsruhe), Sid / Albert Herring (Buxton Festival), Belcore / L’Elisir d’Amore and Figaro / Barbiere (New Zealand Opera and the State Opera of South Australia), Ned Keene / Peter Grimes (Auckland Philharmonia), Figaro / nozze (Opernhaus Zurich), baritone in Idalma (Innsbruck Festival of Early Music), Papageno (Russian National Orchestra) as well as covering the role of Billy Budd for the Bolshoi. Concert highlights include a solo recital at Wigmore Hall, concerts with Birmingham Philharmonic, Moscow Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, Gabrieli Consort, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Academy of Ancient Music, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, King’s College Choir Cambridge and Messiah with the Tasmanian, West Australian and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras and Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra.
Photo credit Oleg Singareev.
February Half Term at York Minster
Discover York Minster this half term with an exciting series of half-term activities for children.
Colour and Light, brought by the York BID
‘Colour and Light’ is an immersive projection experience for the whole family, illuminating the facade of York Minster’s South Transept during the dark evenings of winter.
The free public show will be visible from the South Piazza outside the Minster from 6.00pm to 9.00pm every evening from 10 to 23 February. The show will be on an eight minute loop, and viewers are invited to stay for as many showings as they wish. See full details here.
Treasure Trail
Find the hidden treasures in York Minster with our Treasure Trail. Use the map to find the ten places across the cathedral which will each reveal a treasure!
All trails can be collected from our Welcome Desks or downloaded using the links here.
Family Tour
Our family tour offers the chance to discover the answers to fun questions including ‘How many blue whales can fit inside the Minster?’ and ‘Which room has a special whispering trick?’
Our friendly guides will be running the 45 minute tour on Saturdays at 11am throughout the year. The tours are subject to availability – check our calendar for the dates of your visit.
Grab a Little Explorer Backpack
Our Little Explorer Backpacks can be borrowed throughout the day and are full of exciting items to help young adventurers discover the Minster as they journey through the cathedral.
Undercroft
Get hands-on with history in our Undercroft museum. Follow in the footsteps of Roman soldiers, discover the Minster’s connections to Viking York and see archaeological finds from across the centuries in state-of-the-art chambers beneath the cathedral.
The Undercroft Museum tells the story of two millennia of York’s history through digital displays and artefacts from the cathedral’s historic collection, never before on public display.
Don’t forget that up to four children aged 17 and under go free with a paying adult. General admission is free for York residents and students with valid proof of a York address.
Colour and Light
‘Colour and Light’ is an immersive projection experience for the whole family, illuminating York Minster during the dark evenings of winter.
Brought to the city by the York BID, the unique show has been created by Doubletake Projections using projection mapping to re-imagine the facade of the iconic South Transept of York Minster.
The free public show will be visible from the South Piazza outside the Minster from 6.00pm to 9.00pm every evening from 10 to 23 February. The show will be on an eight minute loop, and viewers are invited to stay for as many showings as they wish.
No booking is required.
For further details about the York BID visit theyorkbid.com.
York Ice Trail 2023
The UK’s biggest outdoor Ice Trail and one of York’s best loved events will return for more family friendly fun with a range of magnificent ice sculptures transforming the city centre.
Get ready for “A Journey Through Time” as the sculptures around the city take you on a walk through history and into the future.
This year the Minster’s sculpture is a ‘Gothic Grotesque’ inspired by the cathedral’s medieval architecture.
Grotesques are decorative stone carvings common in the medieval period, often taking the form of mythical creatures or humorous characters. You can spot hundreds of grotesques on both the outside and inside of the Minster.
The sculpture will be on display outside the cathedral on the South Piazza.
The York Ice Trail is a Make It York Event, sponsored by York Park & Ride. For full details of this year’s trail visit: www.visityork.org/york-ice-trail
York Residents’ Festival – Free Tower Trips
Experience panoramic views of York from the highest point in the city – York Minster’s Central Tower.
As part of York Residents’ Festival, we are offering York residents and students the opportunity to take on our Tower Challenge for free. See medieval stonework and gothic grotesques as you climb 275 steps to the top.
Usually priced at £6, trips run every 45 minutes starting at 10.15am on Saturday, with the last taking place at 3.30pm. On Sunday, the first trips take place at 1.15pm and the last at 2.45pm.
Important information for Tower Trips:
Tower Trip tickets are weather dependent, are only available to book in the Minster on the day of your visit and are available on a first come, first served basis.
This offer is for York residents and students only with valid ID* – all other visitors will be charged the usual rate of £6.
*Valid ID consists of a York Card or a form of ID that clearly state a ‘York’ address or residency or a student ID for those in higher education in the city. Please note, York residents are classed as those whose postcode falls under the jurisdiction of the City of York Council.
The trip is not available for under 8s or anyone who cannot meet our Health and Safety requirements. By booking a ticket, you agree to these terms and conditions.
Reminder: General admission to York Minster is free to York Residents all year round.
The Eucharist for the Feast of Candlemas
Forty days after the birth of Christ we recall the day he was presented in the Temple. In their old age, Simeon and Anna recognise the child Jesus as their Lord. Jesus is proclaimed as the light of the world. At the same time there is a hint of his future suffering, and the focus of our worship starts to turn from the crib to the cross.
To celebrate the occasion, we will be holding a Eucharist for Candlemas on Thursday 2 February at 5.30pm. In this service we hold on to Christ the light of the world and pray for the light of God’s love to shine upon us and upon the world in all of its need.
All are welcome, no booking required.
The service will also be livestreamed via this page and our YouTube channel.
Order of service is available here.
To make an online donation please click here.
Saturday Mornings at York Minster
Join our sessions for families – Saturday Mornings at York Minster – and take part in a Treasure Hunt as part of the cathedral’s activity to mark the Feast of the Epiphany.
Epiphany means a ‘revelation’ and the feast day marks the arrival of the wise men, who, led by a star, find the infant Jesus and bow down before him in worship, offering gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The Saturday Mornings at York Minster sessions run throughout the year and explore the seasons in the Christian calendar, with different interactive opportunities each time including craft workshops, sensory activities, music and worship.
Families are invited to come at any time during the free 45 minute event, which starts at 10.00am, and stay for as long or as little as they like.
Future dates for 2023 include:
- Saturday 8 April – Holy Saturday
- Saturday 27 May – Pentecost
- Saturday 9 September – Harvest/Creationtide
- Saturday 11 November – Remembering
- Saturday 2 December – Advent and Christmas
The Installation of the 77th Dean of York
The Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, Dean Designate, will be installed as the 77th Dean of York during a special service of Choral Evensong at York Minster.
The service, which will take place at 3.00pm on Saturday 12 November, is the final part of the ceremonial sequence that appoints him as Dean of York.
During this service of Choral Evensong, Dean Dominic will give his first sermon in the cathedral and will be commended in his new ministry by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell.
The service of prayers, readings and music will be sung by the Choir of York Minster and will include a special hymn composed for the new Dean, as well as pieces by Walton, Daley, Bainton and Vaughan Williams.
All are welcome to join the service, no booking is required.
The installation will also be livestream via our YouTube channel and this page, so people can join the service from the comfort of their own home.