Could your child be a chorister at York Minster?
York school pupils currently in Year 3 and who love singing are encouraged to audition for a place in York Minster’s world famous choir and the chance to be educated at St Peter’s School, York, the choir school for York Minster since September 2020. Formal singing experience is not required for the auditions.
Children joining the choir, which is made up of 16 boys, 16 girls and 12 adult singers, will be part of an internationally renowned team of singers whose voices are an essential part of worship at the cathedral. The choristers are trained by Robert Sharpe, Director of Music at York Minster.
Choristers perform at services, high profile occasions, events and concerts. They will also have the opportunity to take part in broadcasts for national media organisations such as BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM, recordings for classical music labels and to tour abroad.
York Minster’s choristers receive an excellent education at St Peter’s School. The Chapter of York provides a bursary for each chorister with means-tested funding potentially increasing the level of funding to 100%.
Robert Sharpe explained that the process aims to identify children with musicality and potential, rather than recruiting fully formed singers. He said:
“There will be many parents in and around York with a son or daughter who just loves singing and who may be searching for ways to nurture their child’s ability. Becoming a chorister at York Minster is an excellent way to harness a child’s musical talent. Energy, enthusiasm and humour are just as important as musical talent.
“In addition to developing their musical skills, chorister training helps children to develop lifelong skills such as self-discipline, organisational skills, concentration, poise and attention to detail. Choristers are educated at St Peter’s School which shares a common foundation of 627AD with the Minster, and is the fourth oldest school in the world.
“This is a unique opportunity for a child to have a superb education and to play a part in the life of one of the most important and beautiful cathedrals in the world.”
Commenting on the auditions, Jeremy Walker, Head Master of St Peter’s School York said:
“The experience of being a chorister at York Minster, combined with an education at St Peter’s, offers wonderful opportunities for girls and boys with musical talents and interests. I have first-hand appreciation of the incredible experience this provides, as a former chorister parent myself and Head Master of two cathedral choir schools, and encourage you and your families to find out more and consider an application.”
The new choristers will join York Minster Choir from September 2022.
About the 2022 Chorister Auditions
York Minster’s 2022 Chorister Auditions will be held in the week commencing 17 January 2022 at St Peter’s School, Clifton, York YO30 6AB. The deadline for applications is 31 December 2021. For an application pack and more details, contact Sara Bath, Master’s PA, on 01904 527391 or email s.bath@stpetersyork.org.uk
York Minster’s first Christmas Tree Festival
York Minster’s first Christmas Tree Festival will open next Thursday (18 November 2021) in the cathedral’s grounds, featuring nearly 40 trees decorated by local business, schools and charities.
The festival will take place in a festive marquee by the South Piazza, with the medieval Minster as its backdrop, and will be open daily (excluding Christmas Day) until 6 January 2022.
Visitors will be able to see the trees decorated to individual themes, vote for their favourite tree in a ‘best dressed tree’ competition and take part in activities, including adding their own Christmas message to a tag to hang on a prayer tree, and family craft sessions on Saturday 20 November.
The festival is linked to the new Winter Village at York Minster which will take place by the South Piazza and feature wooden chalets offering seasonal food, drinks and gifts.
Neil Sanderson, Director of the York Minster Fund which has organised the festival, said: “We’re excited to be opening our new Christmas Tree Festival which we hope will help spread some seasonal cheer while supporting one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals.
“Nearly 40 trees are being decorated to individual themes, from handcrafted ornaments by our stonemasons and the team at York Glaziers Trust, to music inspired creations and everything in between, so we can’t wait to see the ideas our participants have come up with.
“Entry to the festival in free, but we are encouraging donations to cover the running costs for the event, with any remaining proceeds being invested to help support the conservation of the cathedral.”
The trees for the festival have been provided with support from local company York Christmas Trees, who supplied the Christmas tree for 10 Downing Street in 2020.
The festival will include an activity tent where visitors will be able to write a Christmas message and add it to a prayer tree. Other activities include family-friendly craft sessions on Saturday 20 November, when participants can create their own Christmas tree decoration to take home.
Throughout the festival’s run, visitors will be able to vote for their favourite tree with the winning charity or school receiving a £200 prize and the winning business £200 to donate to a charity of their choice.
Opposite the festival will be The Winter Village at York Minster, which is being run in partnership with CMJ Events, and brings the best of both location and local produce to this brand new event.
Situated at the foot of the majestic South Door of York Minster, The Winter Village comprises several decorative wooden cabins offering food, drinks, gifts and the perfect place to sit and admire the view.
Both The Winter Village and the Christmas Tree Festival will run daily from 18 November to 6 January (except Christmas Day) from 10am to early evening and admission is free, although donations are encouraged to the tree festival.
Tickets do need to be purchased and booked in advance for the family-friendly Christmas Tree Decorations craft sessions on Saturday 20 November, with various sessions running between 10am and 3pm. Tickets cost £2.50 per participant and are available at HERE or by calling 01904 557200.
The festival forms part of a busy programme of services and events at the cathedral to mark Advent and Christmas. For full details visit www.yorkminster.org/whats-on.
St Cuthbert figure returned to York Minster on All Saints Day
Conserved medieval panels of stained glass featuring the figure of St Cuthbert will be returned to York Minster on All Saints Day (Monday 1 November) as part of an exhibition exploring the life and miracles of one of northern England’s most significant saints.
The figure, which runs over two panels of nearly 600 year old stained glass, was removed from the Minster in March as part of a five-year, £5m project to conserve the St Cuthbert Window – one of the largest surviving narrative windows in the world – and the stonework of its surrounding Transept.
Experts at York Glaziers Trust have been carrying out painstaking cleaning and repair work to the 152 panels removed from the window, with a selection gradually being put on display as part of the cathedral’s Light, Glass & Stone: Conserving the St Cuthbert Window exhibition, which opened in June.
During the work, conservators found the use of a technique dating from the 12th century which demonstrates the level of glazing expertise and skill in the city when the window was created around 1440, and the care and prestige given to the figure of St Cuthbert.
Professor Sarah Brown, Director of York Glaziers Trust, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to return St Cuthbert to the Minster on All Saints Day, the annual date when Christians remember all the Saints who have inspired the church over generations, and to be able to showcase the work that has gone into conserving these panels as part of the new exhibition.
“The panels normally sit in the bottom third of the St Cuthbert Window, which is remarkable in that this whole section of glazing is devoted entirely to historical figures, all clustered around this depiction of the saint.
“One of the most exciting things we’ve discovered is the inclusion in St Cuthbert’s vestments of some ‘jewels’ – small pieces of coloured glass used to enrich his robes.
“The jewels were produced using a glazing technique first described in the very earliest source book for stained glass technique from the 12th century, as a way to enrich white glass with colours without the need to use lead.
“There are a small number of known examples of the glazing technique, which involves painting around the ‘jewels’ avoiding any paint running between the two glass surfaces before firing it in a kiln, in Regensburg Cathedral and elsewhere in York.
“The discovery in this 15th century window is evidence of the level of skill and expertise of the glaziers in the city at the time, who preserved or revived this difficult technique, and the care and status afforded to the figure of St Cuthbert as one of Northern England’s most significant saints.”
St Cuthbert was an Anglo-Saxon monk and bishop of Lindisfarne who lived between c.634 and 687 and was renowned for his good works and miracles. In the stained glass panels St Cuthbert is shown wearing the robes of a bishop and carrying the head of St Oswald, which was placed in his coffin when Viking raids in the 9th century forced the monks to flee Lindisfarne, taking with them the saints’ remains.
The work to conserve the St Cuthbert Window, which dates from around 1440 and is located in the Minster’s East End, and the stonework of the South East Transept started in 2021 and will take around five years to complete.
The project includes installing state-of-the-art protective glazing to the window, to replace external quarry glazing installed in the 1930s and provide a barrier between the medieval glass and the elements.
The work is part of a 20-year partnership project between York Minster and York Glaziers Trust to ensure all 128 of the Minster’s mostly medieval windows have protective glazing to shield the delicate glass from decay and buy time for much needed conservation work.
York Minster’s Season of Remembrance
This year’s Season of Remembrance at York Minster will help us to engage with the extraordinary power of love, the grief and pain of bereavement and the opportunity to honour and to pay our respects to those who have died in past conflicts.
The Revd Michael Smith, Canon Pastor at York Minster said: “All of us carry in our hearts the memory of relatives, friends, colleagues and acquaintances who have died leaving us bereft. In addition to those who died as a direct result of Covid-19, others died without contact with loved ones and often without the funerals and memorial services they deserved, leaving many with unresolved grief.
“We are providing a safe place for people to grieve, to remember, to honour and to pray for all their loved ones who have died, whether they died years ago or in recent months. We hope that people will come for worship and services or simply just come to the Minster to sit, reflect, pray or to light a candle in memory of their loved ones.”
York Minster’s events and services for the Season of Remembrance are as follows:
Saturday 16 October – Friday 12 November
People We Love
A commission by York Mediale from creative collective KMA, ‘People We Love’, returns to York Minster for a second year. The piece features five, floor mounted, high definition screens in the Nave that will each show video portraits of a York local, looking at a picture of someone they love. After over a year of being kept at a distance from family and friends, it’s a poignant reminder of how precious love, and those loved, are.
Originally commissioned for the 2020 York Mediale festival, ‘People We Love’ was open for just three days before the national lockdown in November 2020. Refreshed for 2021 with new subjects, the emotive installation watches those involved as they reflect, remember and are reminded of a loved one.
Sunday 31 October – 4pm
Solemn Evensong for the Eve of All Saints
All Saints Day (1st November), is the day when Christians remember all those Saints, known and unknown, who have gone before us in faith and inspired the church over many generations. In this uplifting service of Choral Evensong, we anticipate the festival of All Saints, when we give thanks for those who have been shining examples and lived out their love of Jesus Christ in word and deed. The Preacher is the Canon Precentor, Victoria Johnson with music by the Songmen and Choral Scholars of the Choir of York Minster.
Monday 1 November – 5.30pm
Solemn Eucharist for the Feast of All Saints Day
We celebrate all the Saints in light and join in with the worship of heaven in this jubilant service with music from the Songmen and Choral Scholars of the Choir of York Minster.
Tuesday 2 November – 9.30am – 4pm
Day to Remember Those Who Have Died
All Souls’ Day (2 November), is the day when Christians remember the departed. A space will be created inside York Minster for people to sit quietly, to reflect, to pray and to light a candle for their loved ones. Minster Chaplains will be available throughout the day alongside members of the St Leonard’s Hospice Bereavement Support team. The St Leonard’s team will be on hand to talk and to provide bereavement support to anyone who needs it. Entry is free for all (the Minster will be closed for sightseeing visits).
Tuesday 2 November – 5.30pm
Requiem Eucharist for All Souls’ Day
The annual Requiem Eucharist for All Souls’ Day, at which we remember loved ones who have died, will take place at 5.30pm. The Preacher will be the Canon Pastor, Michael Smith, with music by the Songmen and Choral Scholars of the Choir of York Minster.
Thursday 11 November – 11am
National Two Minutes’ Silence for Armistice Day
At just before 11am, York Minster will come to a standstill as prayers are said for all those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their country in the First and Second World Wars and in subsequent conflicts since. Great Peter will toll eleven times at 11am followed by the National Two Minutes’ Silence.
Sunday 14 November – 10.30am
Annual Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration for Remembrance Sunday
The Dean of York will preach at this annual service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration for Remembrance Sunday which will include music by the Choir of York Minster, hymns, readings, prayers and an Act of Remembrance at 11am in unison with the commemorations across the city, when Great Peter will toll eleven times followed by the Two Minute’s Silence. All are welcome.
Sunday 14 November – 4pm
Requiem Eucharist for Remembrance Sunday
To conclude the commemorations on Remembrance Sunday, the Choir of York Minster perform Faure’s Requiem as part of a moving and contemplative service of Holy Communion.
A Centre of Excellence for Heritage Skills and Estate Management for York Minster
A project to establish the York Minster Precinct as an internationally recognised Centre of Excellence for heritage craft skills, focused around a campus style facility at York Minster was announced today by the Right Revd Dr Jonathan Frost, Dean of York (the Bishop of Portsmouth designate).
The vision for the Centre of Excellence is a key element of the York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Plan which is undergoing independent examination by the Planning Inspectorate.
The ambition is to create a world class campus for research, education and training in the ancient craft skills that are vital to the ongoing cycle of repair, restoration and conservation and development of York Minster and other ancient buildings and monuments.
The centre will house and deliver training in modern techniques and processes to apprentices and students, working with cutting edge digital facilities such as modern saw technology, data scanning and computer aided design (CAD).
Existing buildings within the York Minster Precinct will be sustainably reordered, repurposed and renewed to provide new workspace and associated facilities to support the operation of the new Centre of Excellence. The campus will comprise two main areas:
The Works and Technology Hub will be housed in the current Stoneyard on Deangate which will be reordered to create space to house a state-of-the art 5 Axis CNC saw and a new band saw. The drawing office will be developed and improved with up-to-date IT and digital technology to support the functionality of the new equipment. Reordered space for the heritage trades will also be incorporated. Estates management will focus on the best practice set through the Neighbourhood Plan and associated documents, the first for an English cathedral and heritage estate. As planned, York Minster will take the lead on sustainable development within a complicated heritage estate. Our focus on low carbon and renewable technology, will drive and help define exemplary best practice in consultation with City of York Council, Historic England and other key stakeholders.
The Heritage Quad is to be a new, simple structure, which will replace the mason’s workshop currently located in the Stoneyard. The building will be designed to sit harmoniously with the city walls and the gardens. Existing old garages at the rear of the Deanery will be repurposed to provide new facilities for the Minster’s scaffolders and gardeners. The structure will include dedicated residential accommodation for the Minster’s first and second year apprentices and for exchange visitors and trainees. A key element of the project will be the resurfacing of the 1970s cobbled road. The uneven surface has become increasingly hazardous over the years making the area almost inaccessible and forbidding for people with disabilities and mobility impairment. The resurfaced road will help Chapter to meets its commitment to make the York Minster Precinct open and accessible to all.
Dean Jonathan said: “With the generous support of the York Minster Fund, we are aiming to create a world leading facility where ancient heritage craft skills can flourish alongside the latest technology and innovation in the field. We have already established knowledge sharing and partnerships with the great cathedral cities of Trondheim, Milan, Cologne and Washington through the vision set out in our Neighbourhood Plan.”
Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct and programme lead for the York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Plan said:
“The Centre of Excellence will give the Works Department the facilities needed to thrive and to become an international Centre of Excellence for heritage craft skill and heritage estate management. We will work in partnership with other institutions, not least the University of York and City of York Council to continue to build the city’s profile as a world class leader in the care of heritage assets. Importantly for York Minster, this critical programme of activity is essential if we are to secure the long term environmental, financial and heritage sustainability of York Minster for future generations to enjoy as we do today.
The pre-application public consultation on the proposed Centre of Excellence will open on Tuesday 12 October and will run until 2 November 2021. To access the consultation go to masterplanning.yorkminster.org Consultation boards will also be available to view on the railings of the old Minster School from Tuesday 12 October.
Dean of York appointed as the next Bishop of Portsmouth
Number Ten Downing Street today announced that Her Majesty the Queen has approved the nomination of the Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost, Dean of York, for election as the 10th Bishop of Portsmouth, in succession to the Right Reverend Christopher Foster, following his retirement in May. He will lead the Church of England’s Diocese of Portsmouth, which covers 133 parishes across south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Jonathan was appointed Dean of York in November 2018 and was installed in a service at York Minster on 2nd February 2019.
Commenting on the announcement, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell said:
“Jonathan Frost has been an outstanding Dean of York. He is a leader who knows how to be led, a man of prayer and a servant of the gospel. He has very successfully steered York Minster through difficult and challenging times. But he has also enabled it to focus on its primary purpose as a place of prayer and a centre for mission. Although we are very sad to see him go, we are delighted that he has been called to use his considerable gifts of leadership, pastoral care and missionary endeavour as the next bishop of Portsmouth.”
Jonathan will lead York Minster’s community through the Advent and Christmas season. He will be installed in his new post next year.
The recruitment and appointment process for the new Dean of York is the responsibility of the Archbishop of York and the Church of England. An Acting Dean will be announced in due course.
Click here for more information from Number Ten Downing Street.
Programme of services and events for Advent and Christmas 2021 announced
York Minster is preparing to mark Advent and Christmas with a series of new services and events for 2021 alongside seasonal favourites and a programme of worship online.
The cathedral’s annual Christmas Carol Concerts will return on 9 and 10 December as well as popular seasonal services including the Advent Procession (28 November), Nine Lessons and Carols (22 and 24 December) and the Crib service (24 December).
New events for this year include the Minster’s first Christmas Tree Festival, which will take place in a marquee in the cathedral’s grounds, and a Winter Village by the South Piazza, with wooden chalets offering seasonal food, drinks and gifts.
Also returning this winter is family favourite The Snowman, which will be screened inside the Minster for the first time since 2017.
Capacities inside the cathedral will remain limited and free tickets will need to be booked in advance for all highlight services, with tickets released during October and November (see full details below).
Dean Jonathan said: “Christians are those who live with a story in their hearts, a story that is told and retold as the seasons of the year unfold. It is a joy to anticipate, once again, the coming season of Advent. Here we will pause to prepare ourselves to hear the wonder-filled story of God’s down-to-earth love in Mary’s Child; and to take our place within His story.
“I look forward to welcoming most warmly all those who visit the Minster in the days ahead. After months of lockdown and restrictions, may I commend the many different events, opportunities and services that will be provided by the Minster team and our partners.
“Capacities will continue to be limited inside the cathedral to help us safely manage visitor numbers and free tickets will need to be booked in advance for all highlight services.
“During the pandemic we have seen our online audiences grow as people choose to connect with us in new and different ways and we will be offering a programme of digital worship alongside the activity in the cathedral so people can also join us from the comfort of their homes.”
The cathedral will be open for sightseeing throughout November and December but may need to close from time to time for services and events – please check its website for opening times and to book admission tickets.
The Minster Shops inside the cathedral and at 9 Minster Gates will also be open daily from 9.30am – 5pm offering a range of bespoke gifts inspired by the cathedral alongside seasonal items including nativity sets and advent calendars and candles.
For full details of York Minster’s programme for Advent and Christmas see below or visit on our WHAT’S ON page.
The York Minster Christmas Tree Festival
18 November 2021 to 6 January 2022, 10am – 7pm
Experience the Minster’s first Christmas Tree Festival set in the cathedral’s grounds. The new festival will take place in a festive marquee by the South Piazza and feature around 40 trees decorated by local businesses, schools and charities.
Visitors can vote for their favourite tree in the ‘best dressed tree’ competition and visit the activity marquee to write their own Christmas message on a tag to add to a tree there or inside the cathedral’s East End. Admission is free but donations are encouraged. No pre-booking required.
More information HERE
The Winter Village at York Minster
18 November 2021 – 6 January 2022, 10am – 7pm
The Winter Village at York Minster brings the best of both location and local produce to this brand new event. Situated at the foot of the majestic South Door of York Minster, The Winter Village comprises several decorative wooden cabins offering food, drinks, gifts and the perfect place to sit and admire the view. The Winter Village, which is being run in partnership with CMJ Events, will be open daily from 10am to 7pm. Entry is free.
More info HERE
Christmas Tree Decorations craft workshop – SOLD OUT
Saturday 20 November, 10am – 3pm
Create your own special Christmas tree decoration to take home at a family-friendly craft activity workshop as part of York Minster’s first Christmas Tree Festival. The craft sessions will run throughout the day in a festive activity marquee by the cathedral’s South Piazza, with the medieval Minster as its backdrop. Tickets cost £2.50 per participant and need to be pre-booked in advance at HERE or by calling 01905 557200.
Tickets will be available from 10am on Tuesday 12 October.
This event is now SOLD OUT.
Evensong: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata 140, Sleepers, wake
Sunday 21 November, 4pm
The Choir of York Minster gives its traditional annual performance of Bach’s popular Cantata 140, ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme’ (Sleepers, wake), with orchestral accompaniment at Evensong for the Sunday before Advent. No booking required.
This service will also be livestreamed via our Advent YouTube page HERE.
Advent Procession – FULLY BOOKED
Sunday 28 November, 5.30pm
An atmospheric and breath-taking candlelit service of music, readings and prayers for Advent, in celebration and anticipation of the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Free tickets will need to be booked in advance for this service and will be available from 10am on Tuesday 19 October HERE or by calling 01904 557200.
This event is now FULLY BOOKED.
This service will also be livestreamed via our Advent YouTube page HERE for those who would like to mark the start of Advent from the comfort of their own home.
Sankta Lucia: Festival of Light – FULLY BOOKED
Friday 3 December, 7.30pm
An atmospheric, candlelit procession and carol service for all the family based on the traditional Swedish Lucia celebration. The service is run in partnership with the York Anglo-Scandinavian Society.
Free tickets will need to be booked in advance for this service and will be available from 10am on Tuesday 26 October HERE or by calling 01904 557200.
This event is now FULLY BOOKED.
Experience Christmas Together – FULLY BOOKED
Saturdays 4 and 18 December, 10am and 1.30pm
This special family session is led by the cathedral’s clergy and encourages participants to explore the Christmas story through interactive stops around the Minster. The sessions are free but tickets need to be booked in advance and will be available from 10am on Tuesday 19 October HERE or by calling 01904 557200.
This event is now FULLY BOOKED.
Experience Christmas Trail
Saturday 4 December to Thursday 6 January, 9.30am – 4pm
Discover more about the Christmas story by exploring six activity stops hidden around the Minster. Families can follow a special trail with items to look at, touch, smell and discuss at each point. There will also be interpretation encouraging adult visitors to spend time reflecting on what each stop tells us about the Christmas story. Free with admission.
York Minster’s Christmas Carol Concerts – SOLD OUT
Thursday 9 and Friday 10 December, 7pm
York Minster’s popular Christmas Carol Concerts return this year offering the perfect start to the festive season. The Choir of York Minster, one of the UK’s leading choirs, will perform traditional and much loved Christmas music, with seasonal readings from special guests and the chance for the audience to join in with carols. Tickets for the concerts priced at £15 – £30 will go on sale at 10am on Tuesday 12 October HERE or by calling the cathedral’s Box Office on 01904 557200.
This event has now SOLD OUT.
Christmas Wreath making workshop
Saturday 11 December, 1pm – 3pm
Join the Minster’s flower arrangers for a masterclass in creating the perfect Christmas wreath for your home. The workshop will take place in our activity marquee which forms part of York Minster’s first Christmas Tree Festival in the cathedral’s grounds.
Tickets cost £25 per person and will be available to book from 10am on Tuesday 12 October HERE or by calling 01904 557200.
The Snowman – SOLD OUT
Saturday 11 December with performances at 12.30pm, 3pm and 7.30pm
Make it a Christmas to remember with a special screening of family favourite The Snowman accompanied by a magnificent live orchestra. Presented by Carrot Productions, the world’s leading performers of The Snowman film with live orchestra, the performance will also include the story and music of The Bear and the Piano, complete with an exclusive big screen animation and narration recorded by Joanna Lumley.
This event has now SOLD OUT.
Nine Lessons and Carols – FULLY BOOKED
Wednesday 22 December, 5.30pm and Friday 24 December, 4pm
Two services consisting of nine special readings, carols sung by the Choir of York Minster and hymns for everyone to join in. A traditional Christmas celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Free tickets for both services need to be booked in advance and will be available from 10am on Tuesday 2 November HERE or by calling 01904 557200.
The service on Friday 24 December at 4pm will also be livestreamed via our Advent YouTube page HERE.
These services are now FULLY BOOKED.
Christmas Eve services – Friday 24 December
Join York Minster’s worship for Christmas Eve at the cathedral or from the comfort of your home.
- 11:30am: Crib Service – a traditional and popular service for all the family. Free tickets will need to be booked in advance and will be available from 10am on Tuesday 9 November. This service is now FULLY BOOKED.
- 4pm: Nine Lessons and Carols – the second of two services consisting of nine special readings, carols sung by the Choir of York Minster and hymns for everyone to join in. Free tickets will need to be booked in advance and will be available from 10am on Tuesday 2 November. This service will also be livestreamed via our Advent YouTube page HERE. This service is now FULLY BOOKED.
- 11:30pm: First Eucharist of Christmas (Midnight Mass) – A Sung Eucharist with Carols. Free tickets will need to be booked in advance and will be available from 10am on Tuesday 9 November.
Christmas Day services – Saturday 25 December
Join York Minster’s worship for Christmas Day at the cathedral or from the comfort of your home.
- 8am: Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer.
- 10am: Choral Matins (sung by the Choir of York Minster). Free tickets must be booked in advance for this service. This service is now FULLY BOOKED.
- 11am: Sung Eucharist (sung by the Choir of York Minster). Free tickets must be booked in advance for this service. This service will also be livestreamed via our Advent YouTube page HERE.
- 4pm: Choral Evensong (sung by the Choir of York Minster). Free tickets must be booked in advance for this service. This service will also be livestreamed via our Advent YouTube page HERE.
Tickets for the Christmas Day services will be available from 10am on Tuesday 16th November.
A new statue of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for York Minster
The Dean of York, the Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost and stone mason Richard Bossons, today unveiled the final detail of Richard’s design for a new statue of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for York Minster. Once completed, the statue will be placed in an empty niche adjacent to the South West Door on the West Front of the 800 year-old cathedral.
The new statue will mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne in 1952 – and pays tribute to her long life of faithful service and duty to her country and to the Commonwealth.
An expert architectural carver and stone mason, Richard has been a member of York Minster’s renowned Stoneyard team since 2011. Richard’s design depicts the Sovereign in her Garter robes with the orb and sceptre, the symbols of her office as Head of Church and State and wearing the George IV State Diadem. Richard’s initial concept design has been developed in close consultation with York’s Fabric Advisory Committee and the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England who recently gave their permission for the principle of the statue under the Care of Cathedrals Measure, the legal framework against which all major changes to cathedral buildings are considered.
The statue will be carved from a block of Lepine stone – the French stone that has previously been used for figurative carvings on the Minster as well as the restoration of the West Window in 2000. Once completed, the statue will stand two metres tall and will weigh nearly two tonnes. Richard will begin carving the statue in the Minster’s Stoneyard later this year and it will be installed in its niche in the autumn of 2022.
Richard said: “There have been several challenges to overcome with this project in terms of the design. First and foremost I have to complement the magnificent medieval façade of the Minster. The statue needs to be part of the fabric, not a distraction from it, yet it also has to have the poise and presence befitting of the Queen’s unique role as Head of Church and State. The figure is posed to form a protective gesture around the orb and sceptre, while Her Majesty’s gaze is aligned across the proposed Queen Elizabeth Square, the principal approach to York Minster. She will stand proud and resolute in her niche, welcoming worshippers and visitors alike”.
The Dean of York said: “We are delighted to be marking Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and to give thanks for a life of dedication to this nation and the Commonwealth. We are incredibly proud that the statue has been designed and will be carved by one of our own masons which is testament to the incredible craft skills we have here in our Stoneyard.
“We hope this statue will inspire the city and be a cause for celebration as we recover from the pandemic as well as setting a course to delivering our vision to create a new square at the West Front of York Minster.”
It is hoped that the new statue will eventually overlook Queen Elizabeth Square – a key part of the York Minster Neighbourhood Plan. The plan proposes the creation of a new civic and ceremonial public realm scheme which, when completed, will be the pre-eminent public space in the city of York.
Biographical details – Richard Bossons
Richard had an early interest in the creative arts. He completed a pre degree foundation course at Bournville College but quickly realised that the emphasis on fine art was not for him. Richard was sitting in the cloister garden at Wells Cathedral when he had a ‘lightbulb’ moment. He then tried stonemasonry and realised it was the outlet for his creative desire.
Studying at Weymouth College from 1995 – 1997, Richard obtained an NVQ3 in stonemasonry, carving and letter cutting. He worked at Wells Cathedral in Somerset as a banker mason and carver, gaining invaluable experience of working a variety of limestones and sandstones and working high volumes of masonry with very tight lead times. He produced work for Wells Cathedral, Blenheim Palace, churches across the UK and even a complete gothic themed bar interior that was shipped to Hong Kong. From 1998 – 2001, Richard worked at Gloucester Cathedral’s in-house workshop carrying out banker masonry and carving on the cathedral, fixing and conservation work. Working as part of a small team Richard was exposed to a wide range of projects including dismantling and rebuilding parapets and designing and carving new grotesques for the pinnacles in the cloisters.
Richard was then self-employed from 2001-2011, working as a sub-contractor on large church restoration projects such as the design and rebuilding of the octagonal corona of Minchinhampton Church and working for specialist designers such as Rory Young and Ian Rank Broadley, gaining valuable insight and experience of their working methods and inspiring him to strive for excellence and the highest standards in his own work. During this time, Richard worked on private commissions including designing and carving memorials and restoration work on domestic properties. He was a member of the Cotswold Craftsmen and the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen exhibiting his work at shows and in galleries.
Richard started work at York Minster in 2011. His role encompasses all aspects of masonry, carving, fixing and conservation work on the medieval cathedral.
York Minster’s Grinling Gibbons Exhibition to launch with a message from HRH The Prince of Wales
An audio message from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Evensong on Sunday 1 August, will launch Grinling Gibbons: Monuments to Glory, York Minster’s year-long exhibition marking the beginning of nationwide tercentenary celebrations for the life, work and legacy of the extraordinary decorative carver who died on 3 August 1721.
The photographic exhibition is part of Grinling Gibbons 300 – Carving a Place in History – a national programme of festivals and events led by the Grinling Gibbons Society to mark the three hundredth anniversary of his death.
The exhibition and sculpture trail tell the story of Gibbons’ life, from his birth to English parents in Rotterdam in 1648, his early exposure to Flemish and Dutch sculpture styles, his time in York where he mastered English carving and sculpture traditions and the move to London which in 1693 culminated, in his appointment as master sculptor and carver in wood to William III.
Gibbons completed three notable commissions for York Minster during his lifetime: stone monuments of three Archbishops of York: Sterne (1664-1683), Dolben (1683-1686) and Lamplugh (1688-1691). The exhibition places these monuments in the context of his life and wider work. Gibbons’ work can today be seen in palaces, churches, museums and some of the country’s great historic houses.
In his message, The Prince of Wales, who is patron of both the York Minster Fund and the Grinling Gibbons Society, pays tribute to the exceptional talent and craft of Gibbons and to the generations of wood and stone carvers who have followed in his footsteps. York Minster’s current generation of carvers and stonemasons are currently working to repair and replace decaying and eroded masonry on the cathedral’s 600-year old St Cuthbert Window.
In his message, His Royal Highness says: “This evening marks the beginning of this year of tercentenary celebrations and allows me to express my support for two organizations of which I have recently become Patron – the Grinling Gibbons Society and the York Minster Fund.
“As we celebrate the three hundredth anniversary of this incomparably talented craftsman, we must also celebrate and pay tribute to all the magnificent craftsmen and women who have followed in his wake, and continue to do so today, leaving us with such a magnificent legacy in York Minster and beyond.”
Commenting on the exhibition, Neil Sanderson, Director of the York Minster Fund said: “Gibbons was a master craftsman, a celebrity in his own lifetime, a towering figure whose influence is reflected every day here at York Minster in the work of our team of expert carvers and masons who lovingly protect, repair and restore this magnificent cathedral.
“We are delighted that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has agreed to champion the memory and the legacy of this remarkable man and highlight his achievements to contemporary audiences.”
An audio-visual version of the message from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, will go live on the Minster’s You Tube page and social media accounts on Sunday 1 August at 5.45pm.
The photographic exhibition and sculpture trail Grinling Gibbons: Monuments to Glory will be at York Minster from 1 August 2021 until 31 July 2022. Entry is free with general admission.
Double Consecration at York Minster – The Bishop of Birkenhead and the Bishop of Stockport
The Archbishop of York, The Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell will preside at a double consecration service at York Minster at 11am on Monday 19 July 2021.
The Venerable Julie Conalty, currently Archdeacon of Tonbridge, will be consecrated as the Bishop of Birkenhead and the Reverend Canon Sam Corley, currently Rector of Leeds will be consecrated as the Bishop of Stockport. The new bishops will serve the Church and the communities of the Diocese of Chester.
The Archbishop of York will be assisted on the day by the Bishop of Newcastle, Christine Hardman and the Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler.
The consecration service will take place in the context of the Eucharist and will include readings, prayers, music and a sermon delivered by The Reverend Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy.
The service will be held under careful guidelines because of the Coronavirus pandemic with strict limits on the numbers attending.
The service will be live-streamed making it possible for the families and friends of Julie and Sam who are unable to attend in person to experience the occasion in real time.
Archbishop Stephen said: “I am delighted that Her Majesty The Queen has accepted the nomination of Julie Conalty as the next Bishop of Birkenhead and Sam Corley as the next Bishop of Stockport. They will bring great wisdom, experience, pastoral sensitivity and missional intent to the Diocese of Chester.
“Bishop Mark and the whole Diocese of Chester are in my prayers, as are Julie and Sam and their families. The Church in Cheshire, the Wirral and parts of Stockport, Trafford and Tameside face many challenges. I rejoice that God has raised up two faithful servants of the gospel to share in the leadership and oversight of the Church as together we seek to make Christ known and build his kingdom in the world.”
In a joint comment about the forthcoming service, Julie and Sam said: “Any ministry is rooted in and flows out of worship and prayer and so we are looking forward immensely to the service in York Minster where we will become bishops in the Church of God. We are so grateful to all those who are making it possible for a small number of people to be present physically in the Minster, as well as the efforts going into making the service available online and would value people’s prayers that blessing, joy and confidence in the love and goodness of God might be hallmarks of the service, and indeed, of all our ministries.”
The livestream for the consecration service will be available on the York Minster website here from 11am on Monday 19 July 2021. The Order of Service will also be available for download on the day.
New exhibition exploring the medieval St Cuthbert Window opens at York Minster
new exhibition exploring York Minster’s medieval St Cuthbert Window, which is nearly 600 years old and one of the largest surviving narrative windows in the world, will open at the cathedral on Friday (25 June).
Light, Glass & Stone: Conserving the St Cuthbert Window explores the window’s history, its representation of the life of St Cuthbert through a series of exquisite stained glass panels and the new five year, £5m project to conserve its stained glass and the stonework of its tracery and the surrounding South East Transept.
The window, which dates from around 1440, tells the story of St Cuthbert, an Anglo-Saxon monk and bishop of Lindisfarne who lived between c.634 and 687 and was renowned for his good works and miracles, which made him for many centuries the most important saint in northern England.
Visitors to the exhibition, which will run until 2024, will have the rare opportunity to see at close range a selection of stained glass panels removed from the window as part of the conservation work, alongside an animated projection and soundscape of one of St Cuthbert’s miracles.
Dr Helen Rawson, York Minster’s Head of Heritage, said: “The window, in its beauty, detail and technique, is one of the finest surviving examples of the art and craftsmanship of medieval glaziers and stonemasons and their skills show in detail the life, work and miracles of St Cuthbert, who was the leading saint of northern England in the Middle Ages.
“The conservation project has given us the rare opportunity to showcase the detail of some of the window’s richly decorated stained glass panels, which would normally only be visible to visitors from a distance.
“It has also created the opportunity for new research into the window’s history and the stories it tells, and we look forward to sharing this insight with our visitors.”
The exhibition is housed in a specially created gallery at the foot of the scaffolding which is currently surrounding the window to enable the conservation work to take place.
The first phase of work to conserve the window started in spring this year when experts from York Glaziers Trust removed all 152 stained glass panels from the window, allowing the Minster’s stonemasons to start carrying out urgent work to replace and repair eroded and decaying masonry.
Professor Sarah Brown, Director of York Glaziers Trust, explained: “York Minster is a treasure-trove of stained glass and the St Cuthbert Window is one of the jewels of the cathedral’s East End, sitting alongside the St William and Great East Windows which have both undergone major conservation and restoration projects in the last two decades.
“The essential repair of the stone of the South East Transept has created a once in a lifetime opportunity to conserve the window, which was last restored following the Second World War.
“Now the glass has been removed, conservators at the Trust have started the intricate working of cleaning and repairing the medieval glass and lead matrix, before it is eventually returned to the window with state-of-the-art environmental protective glazing, to protect it for generations to come.”
Initially the exhibition will display three stained glass panels from the window which have already been conserved and cleaned, with additional panels added as the conservation work progresses.
Other exhibition highlights include images from a 12th century manuscript about St Cuthbert’s life, which was consulted when the window was designed, and details of how his remains were eventually placed in a shrine at Durham Cathedral following Viking raids on Lindisfarne, his original burial place.
Explanations of some of St Cuthbert’s most famous miracles are also accompanied by an animated projection and soundscape of his prediction of the end of a storm, while journeying by boat to Scotland.
The exhibition will run until 2024 and is free with general admission. All tickets must be booked in advance, visit www.yorkminster.org for further details.
The exhibition is part of a series of activities at the cathedral to mark the start of the conservation project. Two talks in July and September by renowned experts Dr Katharine Harrison and Professor Sarah Brown will offer the opportunity to explore the window in more detail, including its history and significance, and to learn more about the conservation project. For full details visit www.yorkminster.org/whats-on.
A fundraising campaign for the conservation project is ongoing, and people can support the work by adopting a piece of the window’s stained glass. St Cuthbert Window Adoption Packs are available from the York Minster Shops inside the cathedral and at Minster Gates or online at shop.yorkminster.org.
York Minster launches composers’ competition to celebrate Grand Organ’s return
York Minster is inviting composers to write a new piece of music to celebrate the return of its Grand Organ, following the completion of a once-in-a-century refurbishment of the instrument.
Working in partnership with the Cathedral Music Trust and Banks Music Publications, the Grand Organ Composers’ Competition is open to both amateur and professional musicians who are invited to submit a new work for solo organ in one of two categories – ages 18 and under or 19 and over.
Entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts including New York based American composer Nico Muhly, composer and former York Minster Organist and Master of Music Philip Moore, British composer Roxanna Panufnik, Canadian-born organist, conductor and composer Sarah MacDonald and York Minster’s Assistant Director of Music Ben Morris.
The winning entries will be premiered at the cathedral later this year during services for Advent and Christmas.
“We’re delighted to have the Grand Organ back in regular use at the cathedral after nearly three years of refurbishment work and are inviting people to help us celebrate its return by writing an original composition,” York Minster’s Assistant Director of Music Ben Morris explains.
“The competition is open both to established composers and those who are just starting out in their careers, who may not have written anything specifically for a pipe organ before.
“Organ music has played a central role in worship at York Minster for centuries and we hope the competition gives people an opportunity to be part of that heritage and to celebrate its future, both through this century and beyond.”
As well as hearing their piece performed as part of the cathedral’s carol services later this year, winners and runners-up will receive financial prizes ranging from £250 to £1,500, with the winner in each category also having their score published by choral and organ specialists Banks Music Publications.
Both the winner and highly commended entries in the age 18 and under category will also receive a masterclass on organ composition with Philip Moore and Ben Morris.
Peter Allwood, Chair of Cathedral Music Trust, added: “We’re thrilled to be working with York Minster on this exciting project.
“The Trust exists to provide a voice for cathedral music and encourage excellence in choral and organ music, including nurturing the next generation of musicians.
“The competition provides a great opportunity for young people to get involved and develop their talents, with the chance of expert guidance through the organ masterclasses for the lucky winners.”
Renowned composer Roxanna Panufnik said: “This competition offers budding composers from all walks of life a fantastic opportunity to write new music and explore the almost infinite possibilities of communication and creativity that this magnificent instrument offers.
“I’m eagerly anticipating joining fellow judges to celebrate and enjoy the wealth of compositional talent from across the UK and beyond.”
The competition is now open for entries and interested applicants should send submissions to composition@yorkminster.org by 5pm on Monday 13 September.
Entries should be a piece for solo organ, between four and seven minutes in length and playable on an instrument of at least two manuals including the use of pedals. A full brief with details for each category and terms and conditions of entry is available to download from the York Minster website at www.yorkminster.org/whats-on.
The Grand Organ returned to use during worship at the cathedral in March this year, following the completion of a £2m, once-in-a-century refurbishment which started in 2018.
The project was the first refurbishment of the instrument on this scale since 1903. It involved the removal of the organ, including nearly all of its 5,000 plus pipes, to organ specialists in Durham for cleaning, repair and replacement.
The instrument was rebuilt and voiced over several months from summer 2020, before returning to use as part of services in March with a formal dedication by the Archbishop of York on Easter Day (Sunday 4 April).
A programme of events to celebrate the organ’s return will take place throughout 2021 and 2022, starting with a month-long photography exhibition about the refurbishment which opens at the cathedral on 18 June and concluding with a series of inaugural recitals planned for summer 2022.
For further details about the composers’ competition and the programme of events to celebrate the organ’s return, visit www.yorkminster.org.