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 (1^st 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 10^th 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 2^nd 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 70^th 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 12^th 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.

Cyclists from York Minster join in the launch of the Cathedrals Cycle Route

Three keen and competitive cyclists from York Minster will be taking part in a nationwide relay ride on a new cycle route linking every Church of England cathedral. The route is launching on 30 May to coincide with the start of Bike Week, the annual celebration of cycling delivered by Cycling UK.

On Tuesday 1 June, a team of cyclists from Ripon Cathedral will arrive at York Minster after completing a 35 mile ride. The following day (Wednesday 2 June), York Minster’s Canon Pastor, the Revd Michael Smith, will lead a Minster cycle team to Bradford Cathedral, the next destination on the relay route. The Minster team plans to complete the 70 mile round trip in a day.

Canon Michael will pass on a specially commissioned baton to the next group of riders in a unique event to launch the new 2,000-mile loop, which links all 42 English Cathedrals to promote greener travel and mental and physical wellbeing.

Speaking for York Minster’s team, Canon Michael said: “We are delighted that York Minster will be part of this. We have an opportunity to be at the heart of initiatives to support our communities in recovery and the Cathedrals Cycle Route is one way of doing that.

“It allows our visitors to appreciate not just the beauty and sanctity of our building, but to enjoy the journey between them as well, which after a year of restrictions, is even more important for our mental and physical wellbeing than ever before.”

The first group of cyclists will set out from Newcastle Cathedral, the most northerly Anglican cathedral, on Sunday May 30 and a group is expected to return to Newcastle 42 days later (weather permitting), having cycled every Church of England cathedral. The start of the relay will coincide with ‘The World’s Biggest Bike Ride’, marking the opening day of Bike Week (30 May – 5 June 2021).

The Cathedrals Cycle Route is a unique partnership between the Association of English Cathedrals, the British Pilgrimage Trust, Cycling UK and Sustrans. It measures 2,000 miles in total, with individual legs between cathedrals varying in length to suit all abilities.

It is the invention of academic, entrepreneur and keen cyclist Shaun Cutler, from Northumbria University, and is designed to help us all out of lockdown with opportunities for short cycle rides between cathedrals, new partnerships and fundraising for activities to support physical and mental wellbeing.

Shaun said: “The Cathedrals Cycle Route is about connecting our historic cathedrals and enjoying the spaces between them.

“Now more than ever, after a year of living with the coronavirus pandemic, this is a way to support people’s mental and physical health and promote the mission of England’s cathedrals through pilgrimage, wellbeing and heritage.”

The relay ride will raise money for Cycling UK’s Break the Cycle appeal, which aims to improve people’s wellbeing and tackle social isolation through the charity’s community cycling clubs, activities and projects nationwide.

Major new conservation project starts on York Minster’s medieval St Cuthbert Window

A five-year, £5m project to conserve the medieval St Cuthbert Window, which is one of the largest surviving narrative windows in the world, and the stonework of its surrounding Transept has started at York Minster.

Experts from York Glaziers Trust have begun to remove all 152 stained glass panels from the window, which tells the story of the life and miracles of one of Northern England’s most significant saints.

The removal of the glass is the first phase of work in the conservation project and needs to be completed to allow the Minster’s stonemasons to carry out urgent work to replace and repair eroded and decaying masonry.

The stained glass panels, which are nearly 600-years-old, will undergo painstaking cleaning and repair by the Trust’s conservators, with a selection going on display inside the cathedral as part of a new exhibition – Light, Glass & Stone: Conserving the St Cuthbert Window – opening in June.

Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster, said: “The St Cuthbert Window is one of the three great windows in the Minster’s East End alongside the St William and Great East Windows, both of which have undergone major conservation and restoration projects in the last two decades.

“Now, after centuries of exposure to the elements, the stonework of the window and South East Transept in which it sits has eroded and decayed in places and needs urgent attention.

“The removal of the stained glass will allow a thorough inspection of the masonry to be undertaken, before we start the programme of stone work which includes dismantling and rebuilding two huge supporting buttresses, repairs to the window’s tracery and the carving of new grotesques.”

Professor Sarah Brown, Director of York Glaziers Trust, explained: “The window dates from around 1440 and is a rare surviving example of a medieval narrative window, telling the story of St Cuthbert’s life on a monumental scale.

“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.

“The team’s work will include intricate cleaning and repairs to the glass and the lead matrix before it is returned to the window with state-of-the-art protective glazing. This will replace external quarry glazing installed in the 1930s and provide a barrier between the medieval glass and the elements to ensure its survival for generations to come.”

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, which made him for many centuries the most important saint in northern England.

To help visitors explore his story and the conservation project, a new exhibition will open at the cathedral next month and run until 2024. Light, Glass & Stone: Conserving the St Cuthbert Window will give visitors the rare opportunity to see at close range a selection of stained glass panels from the window.

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 unveils proposals for a new refectory and public space

York Minster is inviting members of the public to comment on design proposals for a new refectory and public open space on the site of the former Minster School.

Sustainability, biodiversity and well-being are at heart of the proposals. The plans include a sympathetic renovation of the Grade II listed building at number 2 Deangate to create the York Minster Refectory.  The conversion will see the full restoration of the building, including cleaning and repairs to the stonework to reveal previously hidden architectural features. The proposals include important new elements such as the creation of disabled access throughout the building and the installation of solar panels – the first anywhere in the Precinct.  Once the permissions for the restoration and conversion of the building have been secured, the Minster will look to partner with a commercial operator to run the refectory on a rental basis.

The hard landscaping will be completely remodelled to make the area accessible and inclusive for the widest possible range of users. The design will link the refectory and the public space, both physically and visually, to the glorious views of the Minster’s South Transept and Quire.

Historic photographs of the front of the school, reveal evidence of extensive planting along the side of the Minster’s Stoneyard and this has been influential in the emerging proposals for the new public space. It will be specifically planned and designed to increase biodiversity in the heart of the city. Plants will be selected for their sensory and healing properties and to provide food for pollinators and habitats for wildlife.

The project is the first to emerge from the York Minster Neighbourhood Plan (YMNP), the community-led planning document which considered how the Minster Precinct will need to evolve to meet the changing needs of its community and visitors up to 2035.

The process of developing a masterplan for the future care of York Minster and its Precinct began in May 2018.  Three subsequent public consultations were critical to the development of the draft Neighbourhood Plan with almost 700 comments received over 32 weeks of consultation.   The Plan was updated and revised earlier this year, to incorporate the former school estate following its closure last July.  A final period of public consultation was held in December 2020 and the Plan was finally submitted to City of York Council in April 2021.  Once adopted, it will form part of City of York Council’s planning policy.

Commenting on the proposals, the Dean of York, the Right Revd Dr Jonathan Frost said that dynamic partnership working with the Neighbourhood Forum, local residents and businesses since 2018, has been vital at every stage of the York Minster Neighbourhood Plan. Dean Jonathan said:  “The realisation of this first set of project proposals is the result of three years of collaborative community effort and a strong, shared sense of realism about  the solutions that will be needed to make the York Minster Precinct viable and sustainable to 2035 and well beyond that date.

“The proposals for this refectory and the public space adjacent to it, respect the Minster and its history and its purpose as a place of worship and welcome. The plans are highly creative and innovative and aim to breathe new life into the building and open spaces in a way that is inclusive, sustainable, economically viable and, which meets the needs of York residents and our visitors.

“I want to encourage as many people as possible to comment on the proposals and help us to make the best decisions for the future of this special corner of the York Minster Precinct.”

Get involved in the public consultation
The public consultation on the design proposals will be available on the York Minster website www.yorkminster.org/about-us/master-planning/ from Friday 21^st May until midnight on Sunday 13^th June 2021.

The proposals will also be displayed on boards outside the Minster School from Friday 21^st May until Sunday 13^th June.  However due to ongoing pandemic restrictions, comments on the consultation can only be made online and should be emailed to Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct alexm@yorkminster.org