York Minster is a living church with a thriving community made up of people of all ages. For many, York Minster is their regular place of worship, as part of one or more of our Sunday and weekday congregations.

There are lots of ways to get involved with the Minster Community.

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The Minster Community Roll and York Deanery Synod Election 2023

Could you be one of the Minster’s representatives on the new Deanery Synod?

The Deanery Synod is a valuable forum for sharing information between churches locally, helping to shape and develop the mission of the Church in the city by promoting mutual support and encouragement across the Deanery.  In the York Diocese, the primary task of our Deanery Synods is to be involved in the creation of each Deanery’s Mission and Ministry Plan and to work to fulfil the vision of deaneries being a local network of churches inspiring, influencing and leading mission and ministry.

Deanery Synods are appointed on a three-yearly cycle and the next one is due to begin its three-year term of office on 1 July 2023.  For each new Synod, we are invited to appoint up to three lay people to be our representatives in the Synod’s House of Laity.

Each member of the Deanery Synod is elected as a ‘representative’ rather than a ‘delegate’.  Synod members do not bring a ‘block vote’ or ‘Minster mandate’ to Synod, but are selected on the basis that we respect them in matters of faith and church practice.  This means that all members of the Synod are there to represent their own views and opinions rather than being delegated to represent the views of others.

To be eligible for appointment, you must be at least 16 years old, a regular worshipper at the Minster and your name must be on our Worshipping Community Roll that we opened in January 2023.  If you are not on the Roll and would like to join, application forms are available via the link below.  Printed copies are also available from the Vestry and from Andy Oates, Chapter Clerk, at 8-9 Minster Yard (phone: 01904 557210, email: chapterclerk@yorkminster.org).

Deanery Synod Nomination Forms can be download via the link below. Printed copies are also available from the Vestry and from the Chapter Clerk.

Nomination Forms must be completed, signed by the candidate and returned to the Chapter Clerk (by hand, or post, or email) before Nominations close at 12.00 noon on Wednesday 31 May 2023 please.

Meeting and Learning

One of the easiest ways to get to know people is to chat with us after any of our services. We would be delighted to talk to you about what is going on in the Minster and what might interest you.

The Minster Community Walking Group is an active group of all ages who walk every first Saturday of the month and welcomes new members. For more information and details of the next walk, visit the York Minster Walkers’ website

Children, young people and families

We are delighted to welcome children to worship with us throughout the week. We want to provide ways for children and families to worship together at York Minster.

Children’s and young families

In term time, two groups meet monthly during the 11am service:

*The Minster Community Committee

The Committee of the Minster Community is currently elected by members of the Community Roll and seeks to encourage the life and mission of the Minster.

There are a number of sub-groups where members of the Community Committee are joined by other members of the community to contribute to various areas of church life.

Sub-groups

The Social Action Group was set up to develop and organise events and activities that promote, encourage and challenge the whole of the Minster’s Community and congregations to engage in effective social action in whatever way they can.

We are currently actively supporting three charities:

Practical Action, for international environmental and sustainability activity,

MIND, for national mental health support, and

York City of Sanctuary for local support to resettle refugees.

We do this by raising money and promoting their work in the Minster and amongst our community. For more information, contact socialaction@yorkminster.org

The Social Group exists to organise and run a programme of affordable events to foster a sense of community within the congregation, staff and volunteers. Events include talks, visits, musical evenings and a Harvest Supper and Barn Dance. Tickets are sold after the 11am Sunday Eucharist service, usually in the North Transept over coffee, or by emailing communitysocial@yorkminster.org.