Northern Lights returns to York Minster by popular demand this autumn
See York Minster in a new light this autumn when the spectacular Northern Lights sound and light projection returns to the cathedral by popular demand for a seven-night run.
The installation, which is inspired by the Minster’s medieval stained glass and architecture, will be shown from Thursday 24 to Thursday 31 October, with tickets for the events going on sale this Tuesday (28 May) at 10am.
Designed by artists Ross Ashton and Karen Monid from double Guinness World Record winning company The Projection Studio, the installation originally debuted to sell-out audiences in June 2018 to raise funds to protect the Minster’s medieval stained glass.
This autumn’s events will again support the cathedral’s 20-year campaign to ensure all of its 128 mostly medieval stained glass windows have protection from the elements.
Neil Sanderson, Director of the York Minster Fund (YMF), said: “We were overwhelmed with the response to the installation when it debuted last year, not just the hugely positive reaction to the projection events but also the heartfelt support for the campaign to protect the Minster’s unrivalled collection of medieval glass.
“The events allowed people to see and interact with this spectacular building in a new way while supporting a campaign which will help ensure this amazing collection of medieval stained glass – the largest in the country – is protected for generations to come.
“We look forward to welcoming people in October to see the awe-inspiring installation and support our campaign to protect these historically important masterpieces.”
Around 60% of York Minster’s mostly medieval stained glass windows currently have no external protective glazing, leaving them exposed to the elements and subject to corrosion and decay.
In 2017, York Minster launched a 20-year partnership working with York Glaziers Trust and the YMF, to extend state-of-the-art protective glazing to these windows, to halt the decay and buy much needed time for conservation work.
The project is supported by an endowment grant of up to £1m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which means that every £1 raised by the public will be matched by the lottery fund. The funding will then be invested to generate income for the 20-year project, which will cost around £11m to complete.
Tickets for the Northern Lights events go on sale on Tuesday 28 May at 10am. There will be two performances each evening (excluding Sunday 27 October) at 7pm and 9pm, with doors opening 45 minutes before the performance. The experience will last approximately 30 minutes.
Tickets, which cost £6 in advance and £8 on the door, will be available online HERE, by calling the Box Office on 01904 557256 or from the cathedral’s admission desks.
Go behind the scenes at York Minster’s Stoneyard Open Day
Visitors will have the chance to go behind the scenes at York Minster’s Stoneyard on Friday (30 August) to see the ancient craft skills used to preserve one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals.
The annual Stoneyard Open Day invites people to visit the cathedral’s workshops to learn about the work carried out by its craftspeople to repair, restore and protect the Minster’s historic fabric, using techniques passed down through the centuries.
Pieces of stonework on show will include four recently carved grotesques produced by stonemasons to replace four weathered figures removed from the cathedral last year, which were believed to date from the late 1700s. The new carvings include a figure of St George, his legendary foe the dragon and a medieval doctor.
Visitors will also have the chance to join special tours of the Stoneyard’s plaster cast museum and the Master Mason’s drawing office, or take a trip up the South Quire Aisle scaffolding to see the stone conservation work taking place on this part of the cathedral.
Alex McCallion, York Minster’s Director of Works and Precinct, said: “Our annual Open Day always proves popular with visitors and it’s a great way for us to showcase the incredible craft skills which go into maintaining this 800-year-old building, from new stone to joinery and leadwork.
“Every stone replaced on the Minster is hand carved by our team of 15 masons and we have a rolling programme of conservation works needed to maintain the building for the next 30 years.
“Our current project, to conserve and restore the cathedral’s 14th century South Quire Aisle, involves repairing and replacing stone in 15 window bays and will take 11 years and £11m to complete. Visitors will be able to see stone being worked in our workshop as part of this project, learn about the process for identifying, templating and producing the stones to be replaced, and see the actual work undertaken so far on the South Quire Aisle.
“We will also have displays showing lead casting, joinery, wood carving as well as an interactive children’s activity area for budding heritage experts.”
The free event runs from 9am to 3pm at the Stoneyard in 4 Deangate, York. Tours of the plaster cast museum and drawing office with Master Mason John David run every hour from 10am to 2pm and no pre-booking is required – spaces will be given on the day on a first come, first served basis.
The South Quire Aisle scaffolding tours will run every 45 minutes from 9.30am to 2pm. All pre-bookable tickets for the tours between 9.30am and 12.30pm have now sold out but tickets for the tours at 1.15pm and 2pm will be available to book on the day on a first come, first served basis. Spaces are limited to 10 people per tour so early arrival is recommended to avoid disappointment. The tours are for people aged 18+ only, and health and safety restrictions apply.
The open day is part of a range of family-friendly events taking place at the Minster this summer including free games and activities in Dean’s Park and open-air cinema with Luna Cinema , from 27 – 29 August. Visit www.yorkminster.org for further details.
Service of commemoration: 75th anniversary of the Battles of Kohima and Imphal
Seven veterans of the Battle of Kohima and the Burma Campaign, widely regarded as the turning point of the land war in South East Asia (1941-1945), will lay wreaths at a service commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battles of Kohima and Imphal. The service will take place in Dean’s Park, York Minster at 11.30am on Thursday 3 July.
Organised by the Kohima Educational Trust, the service in honour of the veterans will be attended by His Royal Highness The Duke of York KG, Patron, The Kohima Educational Trust, and special guests, family members and descendants of veterans of the battle. The Dean of York, The Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost will preside and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will give an address at the service.
The seven veterans represent a generation of courageous men who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in the face of terrible aggression. The Kohima Educational Trust was set up in 2003 by these and other veterans to honour the Naga – the local people who as guides, scouts, porters and combatants – fought and died alongside them. The Trust raises funds to provide educational opportunities for Naga children, repaying the debt of honour from the past by helping to advance the future of the Naga people. The Duke of York has been Patron of the Trust since 2012.
In 1944, the Japanese Army launched the U-GO offensive, with two key aims: frustrating allied plans to re-take Burma (now Myanmar), and the invasion of India. The Japanese strategy depended on taking control of two remote jungle locations in Nagaland in the north eastern province of Assam: the town of Imphal and the garrison village of Kohima close to the India/Burma border.
Against overwhelming odds, 2,500 allied troops in Kohima withstood 15,000 Japanese troops for two weeks until they were relieved by the British 2nd Division. Their courage and bravery came at great cost. At Kohima and Imphal more than 12,500 British and Indian Troops lost their lives with another 4,000 injured. The defeat was a catastrophe for the Japanese forces with around 53,000 deaths, more than 7,000 injured and the destruction of Japan’s regional ambitions to control Burma and invade India. Historians regard the Battles of Kohima and Imphal as the beginning of the end of the war in Asia.
Commenting on the service Sylvia May, Chief Executive Officer of The Kohima Educational Trust:
“We are grateful to York Minster for allowing us to hold this annual commemoration service in their grounds, to remember those who fought and died and to think of those people in Nagaland who also gave so much. The Kohima Memorial that stands in Dean’s Park is the perfect setting for this remembrance service, attended this year by the families and descendants of the veterans who fought there.”
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu said:
“We stand together today in gratitude and in remembrance of all who served His Majesty The King at the battles of Kohima and Imphal. Kohima’s War Cemetery has the renowned inscription ‘When You Go Home, Tell Them of Us and Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave our Today’. In memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice, Father God, make us better men and women, boys and girls, and give peace in our time. Amen.”
Former Director of the York Minster Fund recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours
The Honourable Michael Benson, Director of the York Minster Fund (2007– 2016), has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours published today. The award recognises Michael’s outstanding service on behalf of York Minster.
Michael was Chief Executive Officer of York Minster Revealed, the £20 million restoration and conservation project (2011-2016), that transformed the cathedral, making it one of the most internationally renowned and visited Christian places of worship, a centre of excellence for the conservation and preservation of stained glass and a world leader in the teaching of traditional craft skills such as masonry and joinery.
Supported by a generous £10.5million grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the landmark project included the restoration and conservation of the Minster’s 600 year-old East Front and Great East Window, the largest single expanse of medieval stained glass in the country.
Michael’s first involvement with York Minster was in 2000 when he started as a volunteer in the Development Office. This later merged into the York Minster Fund, creating an effective and fruitful partnership which raises more than a £1 million a year for the Minster.
Commenting on his MBE, Michael said:
“The award was for all those involved in the restoration of the Minster and particularly recognises the great team involved in York Minster Revealed.”
The Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost, Dean of York, said Michael’s oversight of the project and the York Minster Fund came at a critical phase in the Minster’s history. Jonathan said:
“Michael is a classic change-maker: effective, insightful and inspirational, with a clear vision, enormous energy and the force of personality needed to keep such a complex and important project on track. The transformative effect of York Minster Revealed will resonate for many years and the award of this MBE is testament to Michael’s part in that story.
“Today, the entire Minster Community will join in sending our prayers, our thanks and our warmest congratulations to Michael on this wonderful achievement.”
Work starts to protect 600-year-old stained glass windows as part of £11m project at York Minster
The first phase of work to protect 600-year-old stained glass windows as part of an 11 year, £11m conservation and restoration project at York Minster will start next week.
The major project to repair and maintain stone and stained glass in the cathedral’s South Quire Aisle, which dates from the late 1300s, originally began in 2016, with activity to date focusing on replacing and conserving stonework.
Specialist conservators from York Glaziers Trust are now beginning work to protect the area’s medieval stained glass, starting with the removal of two windows from the upper Clerestory level.
The windows, which date from the early 1400s and are approximately 70 feet from the ground, currently have no protection from the elements and are showing the signs of six centuries of exposure, with the glass having cracked and buckled in places allowing water in.
The work is part of a wider 20-year partnership project between York Glaziers Trust and York Minster to ensure all the cathedral’s windows, which hold the largest collection of medieval stained glass in the country, have protection from the environment.
“The windows in the South Quire Clerestory have been unprotected for 600 years and are now heavily corroded, with extensive paint loss, fire damage and even holes in places,” explains Sarah Brown, Director of York Glaziers Trust.
“The conservation work will include removing all 72 panels from both windows over the next nine months so gentle cleaning can be undertaken in our studios, any glass fractures can be repaired and the lead nets can be stabilised.
“Once complete, the panels will be returned to the Minster in late 2019 with new, state-of-the-art protective glazing to prevent further decay and preserve the irreplaceable glass for future generations.”
The windows, part of a scheme of eight, are believed to have been created between 1404 and 1414 and tell the story of the triumph of Christianity in the North of England, and the crucial role played by York Minster.
The windows were severely damaged in 1829 during a fire started deliberately in the cathedral’s Quire by local resident Jonathan Martin. The graffiti marks of the 19th-century glaziers who repaired the windows following the fire can still be seen.
The windows are two of around 70 of the cathedral’s 128 mostly medieval windows which currently have no protective glazing, leaving their glass vulnerable to corrosion and decay.
The 20-year strategic glass plan will see state-of-the-art glazing extended to all of these windows, halting the decay and buying much needed time for conservation work. Funding for the £11m project has been kick-started with an endowment grant of up to £1m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), which will be invested to create a regular source of income for the 20-year work.
The grant means that since the fundraising campaign launched in 2018, every £1 raised by the public and the YMF has been matched by the NLHF.
To help reach the £1m target and generate further funding for the project, the awe-inspiring Northern Lights sound and light projection will return to the cathedral by popular demand in October this year for a week-long run. The installation debuted in June last year playing to sell out audiences across two nights.
Tickets for the events, which will run from 24 to 31 October, are on sale from HERE
York Minster reveals emerging draft Neighbourhood Plan proposals
York Minster reveals emerging draft Neighbourhood Plan proposals
A new public square dedicated to Her Majesty the Queen – the first in the city of York in nearly 200 years – is one of the proposals in the emerging draft Neighbourhood Plan for the York Minster Precinct, published for consultation today.
Queen Elizabeth Square is part of a wider city initiative to improve Duncombe Place at the Minster’s west front by creating a new civic space for York and a ceremonial space for the county.
The new square will be pedestrianised and landscaped to provide a pleasant seating area for visitors, creating a comfortable and safe protected space where people can gather for major events such as Christmas markets and other activities. Access for local residents, businesses and the taxi rank will be retained.
A life-sized statue of the Queen, will be installed on one of the empty niches at the front of the Minster. Honouring her long reign on the throne, the statue will be carved by a stone mason from the Minster’s internationally renowned Stoneyard.
Queen Elizabeth Square is among the proposals in Phase 1 of the Neighbourhood Plan. The other key developments include:
- a new café and outdoor seating on the south side of the Minster
- a new ticket office and welcome centre for visitors
- a dedicated cycle path at Deangate allowing for safer segregation of cyclists and pedestrians
- a sensory garden with access to the ancient city walls
- improving storage capacity and back of house facilities for the Minster’s operations.
Phase 2 of the plan will focus on enhancements in education and learning with investment in the Minster School and the Old Palace to make it a centre of excellence for education, learning and as a museum space.
Last May, York Minster launched a public consultation on the future development and use of the buildings and land within the Minster boundaries. 290 responses were received and the feedback was used to develop and refine the proposals in the Neighbourhood Plan published today.
Commenting on the consultation, Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster said the emerging Neighbourhood Plan was the result of detailed collaboration with the Minster’s immediate neighbours, the wider local community and statutory bodies including City of York Council and Historic England. Alex said:
“The future of the Minster Precinct is hugely important to many people, particularly to those who live and work in the neighbourhood. An early outcome from last year’s consultation was the establishment of a neighbourhood forum to ensure that any proposals are viable, sustainable and appropriate for the precinct and the local area.
“The York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Forum was formally adopted by City of York Council in March. Chaired by local resident Mark Calvert, the forum is now 39 strong and will ensure the Neighbourhood Plan is community-led.”
Alex added that the proposals for Queen Elizabeth Square at Duncombe Place – a city wide initiative – will completely transform the public space at the west end of the Minster. He explained:
“The draft Neighbourhood Plan has become the catalyst for one of the most significant and exciting civic improvement projects anywhere in the country. This is a tremendous opportunity for the city of York to create an outstanding and accessible new public square that draws people to the space and is sympathetic to the city’s history and heritage.”
You can view all the proposals, and ask questions, in person on Friday and Saturday or online from Friday afternoon here. The online feedback survey will also be available from there until Sunday 10 June 2019.
Chair of the York Crown Nominations Commission appointed
The Prime Minister has appointed Joëlle Warren, MBE, DL as Chair of the York Crown Nominations Commission, Downing Street has announced today.
Joëlle Warren serves as Her Majesty’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Cheshire, Chair of Cheshire Community Foundation, and served 10 years on the Board of Manchester Metropolitan University, latterly as Vice Chair. She began her business career in banking before founding the executive search firm, Warren Partners, in 1999. She is a Member of the North West Business Leadership Team and the CBI’s Enterprise Forum. Joëlle is actively involved in her local church and in wider work for the Church of England nationally.
Joëlle was appointed MBE in January 2016 for her Services to Business.
The Crown Nominations Commission was established by the Church of England’s General Synod in February 1977. Its function is to nominate new Diocesan Bishops for appointment by The Queen. In the case of appointments to the Archbishoprics of Canterbury and York, the Commission is chaired by an independent person who is a communicant member of the Church of England and not ordained. For the appointment of the Archbishop of York it is a requirement that the Chair should be resident in the Northern Province.
Commenting on her appointment, Joëlle said: “I am honoured to have been asked to take on this role by the Prime Minister, and am humbled to lead the Crown Nomination Commission in its prayerful consideration of the next Archbishop of York.
“I look forward to playing my part in finding the person called by God to this ministry at this time.”
A new role for York Minster’s Canon Precentor
The Reverend Canon Peter Moger, who has been Canon Residentiary and Precentor of York Minster since 2010, has been appointed to a post in the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Peter will be the Episcopalian (Anglican) priest on the Island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. He will be based in Stornoway, the largest town of the Western Isles of Lewis and Harris. Peter will have responsibility for two churches: St Peter’s, Stornoway and St Moluag’s, Eoropie.
The exact date of Peter and his wife Heather’s move to Lewis is still to be confirmed as there are some practical matters still to be arranged. However, they hope to move from York in the Autumn.
Commenting on his new role, Peter said:
“This post represents an enormous change—from the Church of England to the Scottish Episcopal Church, and from cathedral to local church ministry—but carries exciting challenges and possibilities. The Western Isles have a rich historic tradition of Christian faith and worship. It will be a privilege to be a part of that, following God’s call to share with the people of St Peter’s and St Moluag’s in ministry and mission to local communities and to the many visitors to the islands.”
Gender pay gap report 2018
The Chapter of York today published its gender pay gap report for the 256 full and part-time members of staff employed at York Minster at 5 April 2018.
The Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017, requires employers with 250 or more employees (including those who are self-employed), to publish statutory calculations every year showing how large the pay gap is between their male and female employees. The data is collected on 5 April each year.
Commenting on the 2018 report, the Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost, Dean of York said:
“We are proud of our commitment to equity of pay as well being an Accredited Living Wage employer and our figures reinforce our commitment to all forms of equality including gender equality. Nevertheless, it is our aim to maintain this level of gender pay equality and commit to conducting regular reviews of policies and procedures to further promote equality and inclusivity for all.”
Full report available here
New Head Teacher for The Minster School
The appointment of Mrs Angela Mitchell, currently Head Teacher of Ralph Butterfield Primary School, Haxby, York, as Head Teacher of The Minster School, was today confirmed by the Dean and Chapter of York. Founded in 627 AD, The Minster School is a co-educational independent day school for children aged 3-13 years.
The Dean of York, Dr Jonathan Frost, commented:
“As a Governing Body we looked to appoint a new Head Teacher who shares our commitment to excellence in academic progress, outstanding cultural enrichment and to a vibrant school community informed by generous Christian values.
“I am delighted, therefore, to announce Angela’s appointment as Head Teacher. With over 14 years’ experience in headship, Angela is exceptionally well placed to take these priorities forward. Angela will come to us from Ralph Butterfield where her inspirational leadership, professional drive and commitment to the flourishing of each child has been recognised by OFSTED in an ‘Outstanding’ rating for the school.”
Commenting on her new role Angela Mitchell said:
“First and foremost, I am a Head Teacher who places the greatest importance on knowing each pupil in my school. Nurturing, caring for and developing every child so that they are motivated and engaged in learning is a very high priority for me.
“I am under no illusion that this will be a challenging role but I have the experience and leadership skills to make a very positive difference to The Minster School and lead it into an exciting future.”
Angela will start her new role in September.
The UK’s leading open-air cinema returns to Dean’s Park this summer.
The UK’s leading open-air cinema returns to Dean’s Park this summer.
After a successful debut in Summer 2018, York Minster has announced the return of the nation’s favourite open-air cinema with a series of new feature-length blockbusters for visitors to enjoy under the night sky.
The run will begin with the ever-popular Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on Tuesday 27 August before Oscar winner Rami Malek’s superstar performance as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody on Wednesday 28 August. The cinema season will end with Mamma Mia 2 on Thursday 29 August.
All films will begin at 8pm and are accompanied by the Luna Bar for refreshments throughout the evening.
Click HERE to book films showing at York Minster
Luna Cinema’s release reads as follows:
Established as a Summer staple, The Luna Cinema is back with a line up of incredible box office blockbusters in many of the country’s most iconic venues
Following an early blast of unseasonably good weather this year, we’re already getting excited for the summer and that can only mean one thing… The Luna Cinema’s open air film season is just around the corner! Cementing its place as the country’s number one producer of open air screenings, and after a packed calendar of indoor Winter screenings, The Luna Cinema returns with the UK’s largest ever season of cinema under the stars, packed with more screenings than ever before, from new award-winning blockbusters to cult classics.
From May to September, film-lovers up and down the country can pick from over 175 outdoor screenings in some of the UK’s most prestigious and historically important sites. Luna audiences get to enjoy films set to the backdrop of the stunning grounds of places such as Warwick Castle, Kensington Palace, Chatsworth House, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Hampton Court Palace, Leeds Castle, Westminster Abbey and Cardiff Castle. New sites for 2019 include the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, Thorpe Park in Surrey, Wrest Park in Bedfordshire, Anglesey Abbey near Cambridge, Marble Hill in London and York Minster in Yorkshire to name a few.
Cinema-lovers will be thrilled by a fantastic choice of films this summer season, with a selection of the year’s biggest hitters and award winners, including the iconic performance from Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born, and the multi-award winning Bohemian Rhapsody, featuring an Oscar winning performance from Rami Malek. Drama fans can have a royal time watching The Favourite at the actual location for the film, Hatfield House, and with a number of hit musical extravaganzas, musical lovers will be sure to be belting out the hits from Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, The Greatest Showman, and Mary Poppins Returns.
As well as these fantastic box office hits, The Luna Cinema will also be screening cinematic throwbacks that’ll have you entertained all night long, from Some Like It Hot at Westminster Abbey, and Grease at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, to Pretty Woman at Wandsworth Park and Moulin Rouge! at both Kenwood House and Chiswick House in London.
George Wood, founder of The Luna Cinema, said: “We are hugely excited to be announcing our 2019 season, our biggest year of open-air cinema yet. With the incredible number of great films released in the last 12 months, it’s shaping up to be a really special one. Following last year’s phenomenal outdoor success with The Greatest Showman, we were hoping for a good crop of musical films and in A Star Is Born, Mary Poppins Returns, Bohemian Rhapsody and Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, we got exactly that! We look forward to expanding our children’s outdoor cinema brand “Luna Kids Cinema” this summer, to visiting some incredible new venues far and wide from Yorkshire to Greenwich and to welcoming film fans from across the country for a night of cinema under the stars!”
Other season highlights include screenings of Mary Poppins Returns under the shadow of the Houses of Parliament (the setting for the film’s climax) at Victoria Tower Gardens, The Favourite and The Young Victoria at Kensington Palace (the latter to mark the 200th anniversary of Victoria’s birth, at the Palace), Monty Python’s Life of Brian at Cardiff Castle, and the critically acclaimed Stan and Ollie at Opera Holland Park. Moreover, Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody will be showing at Knebworth House and Cardiff Castle on the exact sites that Queen played live!
As always, The Luna Cinema audiences are welcome to bring along picnics to screenings. However, all events will have fantastic hot food for sale and a full bar on site, in partnership with headline bar sponsors, Estrella Damm. Premium tickets are available at all screenings, which include a branded director’s chair in prime position in the arena, fast track access and a complimentary drink at the Luna Bar.
A statement from the Archbishop of York following the death of the former Archbishop of York, John Habgood
The sad news of the death yesterday of former Archbishop of York, John Stapylton Habgood, comes as northern bishops gather for a Diocesan mission in Liverpool. As a hugely distinguished scientist, theologian and philosopher, Archbishop Habgood’s faith in Christ gave him a particular perspective and a persuasive witness both to church and nation for his time. His many books simplified big and complex questions, revealing an incredibly perceptive intellect. I’m very glad to have confirmed his grandchildren and dedicated a room in his honour at Bishopthorpe Palace.
His towering presence, physical, intellectual, and spiritual, was a gift to all who knew him. My prayers are with his family at this time. May he Rest in Peace, and rise in glory.’
+Ebor Sentamu