New Assisting Organist appointed at York Minster
Christopher Strange has been appointed to the role of Assisting Organist at York Minster. He succeeds Jeremy Lloyd who is taking up the post of Assistant Director of Music at Rochester Cathedral.
Born and raised in Cheshire, Christopher has just completed two years as the Graham Rogers organ scholar at Chelmsford Cathedral. In July he graduated from the Royal College of Music with a first class honours degree under the tutelage of Margaret Phillips and Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin.
In January 2018, he obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists winning all the available prizes. A student of Chetham’s School of Music, Christopher has also held positions at Manchester Cathedral and Grosvenor Chapel, London.
Christopher begins his new role at the Minster in September, working closely with Robert Sharpe, Director of Music and with Ben Morris, Assistant Director of Music at the Minster. Christopher will take a full part in the Minster’s music programme, playing the organ and assisting with the training of the choristers.
York Minster welcomes John Hattam as a new member of the cathedral’s Chapter and College of Canons
Mr John Hattam will be Admitted and Installed as a Lay Canon of York Minster and a member of the Chapter of York on Thursday 6 September. The Admission will take place in a private ceremony in the Chapter House and will be followed by John’s Installation during Choral Evensong in the Quire at 5.15pm, which everyone is welcome to attend.
The College of Canons consists of clergy and lay people drawn from across the Diocese of York. Its principal function is to be ‘the voice of the Diocese’ in the Corporate Body’s policy discussions, and to assist Chapter in developing closer ties between the Minster and the parishes of the Diocese, especially through Chapter’s programme of outreach and engagement work.
Biography – John Hattam
John is an experienced commercial professional with extensive senior sales and marketing experience in both blue chip multinationals and smaller companies.
Since 2007 he has run his own training business and delivered training on negotiation, leadership and many other subjects to more than a dozen blue chip companies in the UK, Europe, the United States, and the Far East as well as building a successful consulting business with private sector clients in areas including sales training and coaching; new business, product, and customer development; and business turnaround.
He has also worked in the public and third sectors delivering behaviour change programmes for a range of clients including local authorities and health commissioners.
From 2008 to 2014 he was a non-executive director on a local NHS Trust, where he chaired the Performance & Finance Committee and was the senior independent director.
John chairs the Governing Body of Archbishop Holgate’s School, an outstanding school in York. He is also Chair of the Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust Board. Pathfinder is a highly successful trust that is committed to improving outcomes for the nearly 4,000 young people who attend its nine schools.
John has been involved in school governance for over fifteen years and regularly works for local authorities on a commissioned basis to improve governance and outcomes in schools across Yorkshire. He also delivers training courses, licensed by the National College, for current and aspiring governing body Chairs on behalf of the National Governance Association.
More recently he has become fascinated by the potential of simple businesses to alleviate poverty in the developing world and has spent some pro bono time in Rwanda, Uganda and Nigeria exploring this.
He also owns and runs H C Wines, a wine importing and retailing business. In his spare time he enjoys reading, wine, long distance walking, playing the piano and backgammon.
He has three grown up children and is a communicant member of Heworth Christ Church where he and his wife have worshipped since 1989.
BBC journalist Huw Edwards to host special event: ‘An Audience with The Sentamus’ during York Minster Mission Weekend
Huw Edwards, BBC journalist and presenter of the BBC Ten O’Clock News, will host a special public event with The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu and his wife, Margaret at York Minster this month as part of a busy Mission Weekend at the cathedral.
In An Audience with The Sentamus, which will take place on Saturday 29 September, John and Margaret will talk to Huw about their lives and careers, how they came to discover God’s love and how the Christian faith continues to shape every aspect of their lives.
The conversation will be interspersed with the couple’s favourite music, poetry and readings and will include opportunities for the audience to put questions to John and Margaret.
The event is part of a Mission weekend at York Minster which runs from Friday 28 September until Sunday 30 September. During the last 17 months the Archbishop has toured all 21 deaneries across the Diocese of York joining Christian communities to share and celebrate the good news of God’s love with their friends and family.
The Mission weekend concludes the marathon tour and encourages people to come and learn more about the Christian faith. Events include:
Friday 28 September
Q&A with Dunnington Primary School
52 year six students from Dunnington Primary School will hold their own Q&A with the Archbishop as part of their school visit to the Minster. The students will be given a guided tour of the Minster and will attend a short act of worship – ‘Crypt and Candles’ – before joining the Archbishop in the Learning Centre.
Prayers for the Mission Weekend
The 12.30 service of Holy Communion will include prayers to mark the start of the Mission weekend. The Archbishop will then join York residents, workers on lunch break, visitors, staff and volunteers for a soup lunch.
Harvest Festival at the Minster School
The Archbishop will attend and preach at the Minster School’s Harvest service. There will be an opportunity for pupils, parents and staff to meet the Archbishop over refreshments after the service.
Minster Community Harvest Service, Ceilidh and Supper
Each member of the Minster’s worship community has been tasked to bring someone new to this annual, invitation-only event. The Archbishop will hold a special Q&A session during the evening.
Saturday 29 September
Discovering God’s Love with The Archbishop of York
The Archbishop will act as the Minster’s Duty Chaplain for the day. He will spend the first part of the day greeting staff and volunteers as they arrive for their shift in the cathedral. As Duty Chaplain, Dr Sentamu will tour the cathedral throughout the day, making himself available to pilgrims, visitors and worshippers for prayer, discussion and questions about faith and offering pastoral care to those in need.
An Audience with The Sentamus
In a special public event, hosted by Huw Edwards, The Archbishop and his wife, Margaret, will talk about their lives, how they came to discover God’s love and how they continue to live their faith. The couple will also reveal their favourite pieces of music and readings and will take part in a question and answer session. Tickets are available in advance online here or on the door on the night subject to availability.
Sunday 30 September
Sunday Eucharist with Celebration of Baptism
The final day of the Mission weekend will be an opportunity for anyone who has been baptised to come to our regular 10am service to renew their Christian commitment. The preacher at the service will be Margaret Sentamu. All are welcome and we would particularly like to encourage families who have had children baptised in the Minster in recent years to come along and join the celebrations. Coffee and cake will be served afterwards.
A specially invited group of young people (aged 16 – 30) and recently confirmed into the Church, will be invited to join the Archbishop for lunch at a local café. Dr Sentamu will speak and there will be an opportunity for the young people to have informal conversations with him.
Choral Evensong
The Mission weekend will close with a service of Choral Evensong at 4.00pm at which we will celebrate and pray for York Minster’s three charities: York Neighbours, national charity Home Start and international charity Embrace the Middle East.
Follow up
In the weeks following the Mission, York Minster will run a series of evening meetings for all who have been touched and inspired by the event to explore the Christian faith in a little more depth.
An Audience with The Sentamus, hosted by Huw Edwards will take place on Saturday 29 September in the Nave of York Minster starting at 7.30pm. The event is free of charge but tickets are required for entry. Tickets are available in advance online here or on the door on the night subject to availability.
Final concert for York Minster’s Grand Organ before once-a-century refurbishment
The final gala concert featuring York Minster’s Grand Organ will take place this Saturday (25 August) before the instrument undergoes a major, £2m refurbishment for the first time in 100 years.
The event will include contributions from York Minster’s current and former organists and provides the finale to a series of concerts and recitals which have run throughout 2018 to celebrate the famous instrument.
In October, work will begin on a two year refurbishment project, which includes removing the instrument – including almost all of its 5,403 pipes – for repair/rebuilding in Durham by organ specialists Harrison and Harrison.
Robert Sharpe, Director of Music at York Minster, said: “The summer recitals are always special as they provide a unique opportunity to hear the organ played to its full potential in atmospheric surroundings. Saturday’s concert will be particularly so, as the last opportunity to hear this magnificent instrument in a concert until it is reinstated in autumn 2020.”
The programme includes performances by Robert Sharpe, Ben Morris, Assistant Director of Music at York Minster and John Scott Whiteley, Organ Emeritus of York Minster.
Due to their regular use and environment, cathedral organs ideally require small-scale cleaning and adjustment every 15 to 20 years, with more extensive repairs carried out every 30 to 35 years and a major refurbishment every 100 years. The last major refurbishment of the Minster’s organ was carried out in 1903.
The project will include replacing the organ’s mechanism, extensive work to dismantle, clean and overhaul the instrument and minor changes to the organ case to both improve how it looks and the sound it allows out. The plans also include creating a new music library underneath the organ, inside the screen which separates the Quire from the Nave, subject to the relevant permissions being obtained.
The aim is to ensure the unique sound of the Minster’s organ is preserved, while restoring the grander, imposing qualities which were altered during work in the 1960s.
During the two years of refurbishment work, the Minster’s full music programme will continue. A grand piano will be used alongside an existing chamber organ in the Quire and a digital organ will serve both the Nave and Quire.
The summer gala concert will take place on Saturday 25 August at 7pm, with doors opening at 6.30pm. Tickets cost £8 and can be purchase online here on the door or by calling 01904 557200.
Bidding opens to own a piece of York Minster
Bidders vying to own a piece of history can place offers online for the first time as part of York Minster’s auction of historic stone next week.
The auction, the first since 2016, will take place on Wednesday (22 August) and features 140 pieces of stone, which have all been removed from the cathedral during conservation work.
Lots range in date from 14th century stones to Victorian pieces, with highlights including grotesques, finials and ten lots which form an 18th century pinnacle.
For the first time, interested bidders can now view the stones going under the hammer via an online catalogue, placing bids either in advance or live during the auction.
The event concludes a four-day celebration of the ancient craft of stonemasonry at the Minster, which starts on Friday (17 August) with the annual Stoneyard Open Day, followed by the Stone Carving Festival in Dean’s Park on Saturday and Sunday (18 and 19 August).
The Stone Carving Festival will see more than 70 stonemasons from across the globe gathering for two days of carving on the theme ‘All creatures great and small’, with participants travelling from a range of countries including India, Iceland, Norway and Cyprus, as well as locations across the UK.
Neil Sanderson, Director of the York Minster Fund, said: “York Minster is an international icon and we’re very grateful for the interest and support it attracts from around the globe. We’re delighted to be able to offer an online catalogue for the first time this year for those who can’t make it along to the auction but would like to own a piece of the cathedral, which has a special place in so many people’s hearts.
“It seems fitting to have the event as part of the four-day celebration of the ancient craft of stonemasonry and we’re looking forward to welcoming people to learn more about the skill which goes into maintaining a fragile masterpiece like York Minster.”
The auction of historic stone starts at 12noon on Wednesday 22 August in Dean’s Park. Lots can be viewed in advance via the online catalogue at auction.yorkminster.org, which has been provided by auctioneers Stephenson & Son and is now open for bids. Five preview events will also take place in Dean’s Park on Saturday 18 August 1pm-3pm, Sunday 19 August 2pm-3pm, Monday 20 August 5pm-7pm, Tuesday 21 August 5pm-7pm and Wednesday 22 August 10am-12noon.
The Stoneyard Open Day runs from 9.30am until 3pm on Friday 17 August in the cathedral’s Stoneyard in Deangate. Visitors can see the cathedral’s craftspeople at work in their workshops and learn how they repair, restore and protect the Minster’s historic fabric, as well as joining tours of the cathedral’s South Quire Aisle scaffolding and plaster cast museum and drawing office. Please note spaces for the South Quire Aisle tours are limited – visit www.yorkminster.org for full details.
The Stone Carving Festival runs from 8am-6pm on Saturday 18 August and from 8am-5pm on Sunday 19 August. It will be officially opened at 11am on Saturday 18 August by the Sheriff of York, Verna Campbell. The two winners of a school competition, which attracted nearly 120 entries, to design a carving for York Minster stonemasons to create will also be presented with their finished pieces.
The festival will conclude on Sunday 19 August at 3pm with the presentation of four prizes for ‘Best Carving’ and ‘Best Apprentice Carving’ (both voted for by participants), ‘People’s Choice’ and ‘Worshipful Company of Masons Choice’. An auction of the pieces created during the weekend will then take place from 3.30pm.
All four events are free to attend.
York Minster welcomes stonemasons from across the globe for Stone Carving Festival
Stonemasons from across the globe will gather in York Minster’s Dean’s Park this August to take part in the cathedral’s first Stone Carving Festival since 2010.
More than 70 expert craftspeople will take part in the festival on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August, with participants travelling from a range of countries including India, Iceland, Norway and Cyprus, as well as locations across the UK.
The masons will spend two days carving on the theme ‘All creatures great and small’, with the finished pieces auctioned at the end of the festival.
The weekend forms part of a four-day celebration of the ancient craft at the Minster, which starts with the annual Stoneyard Open Day on Friday 17 August, and concludes on Wednesday 22 August with an auction of historic stone removed from the cathedral during conservation work.
Funds raised from the events will be reinvested in maintaining the 800-year-old cathedral.
Alex McCallion, York Minster’s Director of Works and Precinct, said: “We’re delighted to be holding our first Stone Carving Festival for eight years, celebrating the extraordinary skills which go into maintaining not just York Minster but iconic buildings across the globe.
“York’s team of stonemasons has been involved in festivals since 1999 and the cathedral has hosted two previous events in the last two decades. We’ve had more than 70 masons register for our event with people coming from a range of organisations, from famous cathedrals to commercial firms. We look forward to welcoming them to the Minster and seeing their extraordinary creations take shape over the weekend.”
The festival will be officially opened at 11am on Saturday 18 August by the Sheriff of York, Verna Campbell. The two winners of a school competition, which attracted nearly 120 entries, to design a carving for York Minster stonemasons to create will also be presented with their finished pieces.
As well as the carving activity, a series of lectures will run from 12noon with speakers and topics including ‘The 12th Century Minster’ by Cathedral Archaeologist Stuart Harrison and ‘How to read the Minster – an architectural history of York Minster’ by Cathedral Architect Andrew Arrol.
The festival will conclude on Sunday when participants will vote for the winners of two categories – ‘Best Carving’ and ‘Best Apprentice Carving’ – before an auction of all pieces carved during the festival takes place at 3.30pm.
The Stoneyard Open Day runs from 9.30am until 3pm on Friday 17 August in the cathedral’s Stoneyard in Deangate. Visitors to the free event will be able to see the cathedral’s craftsmen and women at work in their workshops and learn how they repair, restore and protect the Minster’s historic fabric.
Master Mason John David will lead tours of the plaster cast museum and drawing office every hour between 10am and 2pm, and a limited number of places will also be available for tours of the cathedral’s South Quire Aisle scaffolding, to see the conservation work taking place there. Tours will run every 45 minutes from 9.45am to 3pm and are available on a first come, first served basis.
On Wednesday 22 August, people will have the chance to own a piece of York Minster when 140 pieces of historic stone, removed from the cathedral during conservation work, go under the hammer.
The auction, the first the cathedral has held for two years, will feature lots ranging in date from 14th century stones to Victorian pieces. Highlights include grotesques, finials and ten lots which form an 18th century pinnacle.
For the first time, people will be able to view and bid for the pieces being auctioned via an online catalogue, available via Auction.YorkMinster.org. Previews of the stones will also take place in Dean’s Park on Saturday 18 August 1pm-3pm, Sunday 19 August 2pm-3pm, Monday 20 August 5pm-7pm, Tuesday 21 August 5pm-7pm and Wednesday 22 August 10am-12noon.
The Stone Carving Festival runs from 8am-6pm on Saturday 18 August and from 8am-5pm on Sunday 19 August, with the auction starting at 3.30pm. The event is free to attend. For full details, visit our What’s On page.
Repair fund helps York Minster prepare for First World War Commemorations
A national scheme to conserve and repair England’s cathedrals from which York Minster was awarded £800,000, has significantly reduced immediate risks, a report published today said.
The £40 million First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund, launched by the Government in 2014, invited applications from Catholic and Church of England cathedrals to address urgent repair works. The fund prioritised making buildings weatherproof, safe and open to the public as well as ensuring they would be in a safe condition to host acts of remembrance for the centenary of the First World War armistice in 2018.
In 2014-2015, the Minster received £300,000 for repairs to the stonework and roof of the Camera Cantorum. Dating from 1415, the two storey structure today houses the Minster shop and a rehearsal space for the Minster’s choristers. In 2016, the Minster was awarded £500,000 to support repair and restoration work on the 11 bays of the Quire Aisle on the south side of the cathedral.
England’s cathedrals contribute more than £220m to the economy each year, drawing in more than 11 million visitors. Each cathedral has the responsibility for raising the funds required for upkeep. However, with no regular Government funding, each cathedral faces an ongoing challenge to maintain their fabric while ensuring comfort, safety and accessibility for all.
A total of 146 awards were made to 57 cathedrals. Twelve cathedrals were awarded more than £1 million each, and the average award was £274,000. Grants were awarded over two phases from 2014 through to 2018.
Today’s independent report shows a significant reduction of problems requiring immediate repair as a result of the investment but warned that recipients all had outstanding repairs in areas not covered by the scheme.
Grants were awarded by an independent panel chaired by Sir Paul Ruddock, a position appointed by the Secretary of State. The Fund was administered by the Church of England’s Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division (CCB) on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with the CCB praised in the report for cost efficiency and excellent communication.
The report concluded that the fund had been successful in achieving its aims and met a funding need that could not be met elsewhere, adding that areas of cathedrals covered by grant-aided projects had been very largely changed from needing urgent repair to needing routine maintenance only.
The Revd Canon Peter Moger, Precentor and Acting Dean of York, said the financial support provided by the fund has revitalised English cathedrals. He said:
“The decision to set up the fund was an acknowledgement of the fact that cathedrals continue to play a vital role in the lives of communities across the country. The fund established a shared sense of purpose and national responsibility to ensure that cathedrals will endure for future generations.
“At York Minster, the funds for the Camera Cantorum helped to preserve a building which links the past and the present. Generations of Minster choristers have trained in that space including 12 choristers and an Alto song man who were killed on active service in the First World War. Today the building is full of life and echoes with the glorious singing of young choristers who rehearse every day in the Camera Cantorum just as their predecessors did.”
The Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, the Church of England’s lead bishop for churches and cathedrals said: “Cathedrals such as York Minster are at the forefront of the nation’s acts of remembrance each year, and have huge economic, spiritual and missional impact on their communities.
“This fund has been an imaginative and welcome resource to ensure our cathedrals are fit for this commemoration, as well as underpinning the vital contributions they make to their communities.
“It is vital that we do not stop here, and continue our commitment as a nation to protecting York and all England’s cathedrals for generations to come. We look forward to continuing a constructive dialogue with the Government around future funding collaborations.”
New pop-up summer festival opens at York Minster
York Minster’s Heart of Yorkshire Festival opens this weekend with a range of nature inspired activities and workshops in Dean’s Park.
The popular park has been transformed over the last two weeks for the two-month long pop-up festival, which includes an international stone carving festival, open air cinema and a tipi bar.
Themed around sustainability, the environment and conservation, the events celebrate the completion of the 10-year, £11.5m project to restore the cathedral’s East End and Great East Window, and the ideas of life and restoration which sit at the heart of the Christian faith.
The festival kicks-off with a series of adult workshops from experts in urban beekeeping, flower arranging and horticulture.
Highlights include willow weaving workshops with willow sculptor and floristry designer Wendy Bristow of Twigs and Sprigs on Wednesday 11 July and Friday 20 July, where participants can create a large wreath or heart while learning about the ancient traditional craft.
York Minster’s Flower Arrangers will also be sharing their skills at two sessions on Thursday 12 July, where visitors can create a posy arrangement of seasonal flowers and foliage.
On Saturday 14 July and Friday 17 August, people can join horticulture expert Mike I’Anson, who recently retired from Helmsley Walled Garden, in conversation. The two sessions focus on different themes including creating a cut flower garden and extending the flowering season, and organic veg growing and managing pests.
At the end of the month, urban beekeeping expert and enthusiast Julia Smith will run an interactive talk giving participants the chance to brush up on their apiary awareness, get up close with honeycomb frames and try on a bee keeping suit. The talk takes place on Monday 23 July and is suitable for adults and children aged seven plus.
Alex O’Donnell, York Minster’s Learning Manager, said: “We’re really excited to have the Heart of Yorkshire Festival at York Minster for the very first time this summer.
“This weekend sees the start of a huge range of nature-inspired events, talks, workshops and performances with something to suit every age range and we can’t wait to welcome people over the next eight weeks.”
The adult activities will be followed throughout the school holidays by a range of family workshops and hands-on children’s craft activities. Highlights include ‘Trashbang!’, an interactive music workshop from Billy Hickling, previously performer and rehearsal director with international stage hit STOMP, and a song-writing workshop with award-winning songwriter and musician David Gibb.
The centrepiece of the two-month festival will be the international York Minster Stone Carving Festival – the first the cathedral has hosted since 2010 – which will run from the 17 to 19 August. More than 70 stonemasons and carvers from across the UK and Europe will showcase their skills during the three-day festival, which starts with the popular annual Stoneyard Open Day, followed by two days of carving in Dean’s Park.
Throughout the summer, pop-up tipi bar SÓL ÁST, from the team behind THOR’S tipi bar, will provide street food and drinks with a summery vibe, including their signature cocktail the ‘Minster Martini’. A large outdoor garden and terrace offers visitors the chance to enjoy one of the most magnificent settings in the country, with a drink in hand.
For full details of all events and activities and to book tickets, visit our What’s On pages.
The Acting Dean of York – The Reverend Canon Peter Moger
On Monday 25 June, the current Dean of York, The Very Reverend Dr Vivienne Faull will assume her legal title as the 57th Bishop of Bristol. She will be consecrated at St Paul’s Cathedral on 3 July and will begin public ministry in her new role in October. The process to nominate her successor as the new Dean of York is already underway.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has appointed The Reverend Canon Peter Moger, Canon Precentor at York Minster, as Acting Dean of York for the duration of the vacancy.
Annual Report and Chapter’s Report on Progress 2017
The Chapter of York has published its Annual Report and Chapter’s Report on Progress 2017. The document provides detailed information about York Minster’s financial performance and includes a review of the year’s events and activities.
The statutory accounts for 2017 show income of £9.07 million against expenditure of £8.56 million resulting in a surplus before investment gains of £509,000 (compared to a deficit of £391,000 in 2016).
Total funds for the year ended 31 December 2017 increased by £4.7m to £51 million. This was largely due to the revaluation of the property portfolio in the year, in addition to investments performing well for a second consecutive year.
Commenting on the Minster’s 2017 performance, the outgoing Dean of York, the Very Reverend Dr Vivienne Faull, said:
“2017 was a year of achievement, anticipation and excitement at York Minster. After more than 10 years of planning and preparation and the most exquisite and detailed work on stained glass and stone, the scaffolding came down and we revealed the glory of the East Front and the beauty of John Thornton’s Great East Window, Britain’s largest expanse of medieval stained glass and one of the largest medieval windows ever made. We can now view this masterpiece in its pristine condition for the first time in more than 600 years. Seeing the reaction of visitors and talking to them about the window has been a truly rewarding experience.
“It was also a year in which we welcomed many more people to the Minster. People came for many different reasons: for worship and pilgrimage, for special services and events and to immerse themselves in the Minster’s magnificent architecture, history and culture. Whatever their reasons for coming, we have focused our efforts on ensuring that each person receives a warm, world class welcome and an excellent experience.”
The highlights in Chapter’s annual report include:
- 12 per cent more worshippers than 2016
- a record year for visitors with almost 700,000 people attending special services, events and for tourism
- the final phases of the decade long restoration and conservation programme on the East End and the Great East Window
- an innovative new 20-year, £11m partnership between The Chapter of York and the York Glazier’s Trust to provide state-of-the-art protective glazing for the cathedral’s stained glass windows. The partnership is supported by a match-funding grant, awarded to the York Minster Fund, of up to £1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund
- the start of a two year, £2m project that will see York Minster’s Grand Organ undergo a refurbishment for the first time in 100 years.
Commenting on an outstanding year of progress at the Minster, Viv Faull added:
“During the last six years, Chapter concentrated on developing the capabilities needed to sustain mission into the future. We focused on finance, audit, risk management, governance and training and development of staff and volunteers. The outcomes achieved in 2017 are a direct result of this approach.
As she prepares to leave York Minster for her new role as Bishop of Bristol, Viv Faull paid tribute to the Minster’s community. She said:
“I will hold in my heart very strong memories of the energy and commitment of the Minster’s staff, volunteers, worshippers and donors. It has been an honour to lead and to be part of this wonderful extended team.”
York Minster’s income is invested in a wide and complex range of activities including:
- playing an active role across the Diocese of York and the Northern Province
- supporting the work of the Archbishop of York
- an outstanding programme of worship, music and liturgy
- delivering a world class welcome to our local, domestic and international visitors
- internationally renowned work to conserve, restore and repair stained glass and stone
- caring for the cathedral’s buildings and investment properties
- Preserving ancient craft skills through an expanded apprenticeship programme.
Full reports available here
Northern Lights weekend raises £1.4 million to help protect York Minster’s stained glass
A weekend of spectacular events organised by the York Minster Fund has raised £1.4 million to help protect York Minster’s world famous collection of stained glass
The Northern Lights weekend opened on Friday (15 June) with a gala fundraising dinner enjoyed by 700 guests in the Minster’s Nave, before the cathedral opened its doors after hours on Saturday and Sunday for two sell-out screenings of a new sound and light projection by artists Ross Ashton and Karen Monid.
The events were organised to support an innovative campaign to build sufficient funds to extend state-of-the-art external glazing to all of the Minster’s historically important windows, 60% of which currently have no protection from the elements.
The work will take 20 years to complete in partnership with the York Glaziers Trust and cost £11m in total.
Neil Sanderson, Director of the York Minster Fund, said: “We’re hugely grateful to our sponsors and everyone who came to support the spectacular Northern Lights weekend and are delighted, with the support of the Heritage Lottery, to have raised such a fantastic amount to kick start our fundraising campaign.
“York Minster’s windows hold one of the most important collections of medieval stained glass in the country, with the earliest pieces dating back to the late 12th century. Our work with York Glaziers Trust over the next 20 years will ensure these irreplaceable masterpieces are protected for generations to come.
“Our three-year fundraising campaign is to establish an endowment fund for the 20 year programme and involves a match-funding grant of up to £1m from the Heritage Lottery. This means that for every £1 raised over the weekend, at least £4 will be added to the conservation project pot, and we are hugely grateful to the lottery for this support.”
The money raised will then be invested and the returns from the fund used to help pay for the ongoing conservation work over the next two decades.
The entertainment at Friday’s gala dinner – the first on this scale since 2012 – included illuminated stilt walkers and a performance by Heliosphere by The Dream Engine. An acrobat suspended beneath a giant helium balloon interacted with guests as she floated through the cathedral’s Nave.
The dinner was followed by the world premiere performance of Northern Lights a sound and light projection by artists Ross Ashton and Karen Monid, which took its inspiration from the cathedral’s stained glass and architecture. It told the story of time, from first creation to final revelation, mirroring ideas and images from the recently restored Great East Window.
The weekend continued when the Northern Lights installation was also shown at two sell-out evening opening events on Saturday and Sunday, which attracted 3,000people.
The artwork realised a ten year ambition for the London-based artists to create a piece inside York Minster, following their highly successful projection Rose, shown outside York Minster’s South Transept in 2010.
The success of the weekend’s events were made possible thanks to the support of a number of generous supporters. Headline sponsor for the event was Langleys Solicitors, principal sponsor Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School and major sponsor UBS.
A range of items were also donated for the gala dinner including a specially designed sapphire and diamond Yorkshire Rose necklace by Ogden Harrogate, champagne by Joseph Perrier, courtesy of Field and Fawcett, and fillet steak by Dovecote Park.
The stained-glass window that was expertly created by the York Glaziers Trust for the 2016 Welcome to Yorkshire Chelsea Flower Show Garden was also gifted as an auction prize by the tourism body. Other generous sponsors for the events included Cazenove Capital and Press Green Ltd.
York Minster transformed for Northern Lights to raise funds for glass conservation
York Minster’s cavernous Nave will be transformed this week in preparation for Northern Lights – a special weekend of events to raise funds for the cathedral’s glass preservation project.
The weekend starts on Friday 15th June with a gala fundraising dinner for 700 guests organised by the York Minster Fund, the first on this scale since the Diamond Jubilee Rose Dinner in 2012.
Then on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June, the cathedral will open its doors after hours for two public events where visitors will be able to see a new sound and light projection designed by artists Ross Ashton and Karen Monid, taking inspiration from the cathedral’s stained glass and architecture.
The events have been organised to raise funds to support the 20 year project to extend state-of-the-art external glazing to all 128 of the Minster’s mostly medieval stained glass windows, around 60% of which currently have no protection from the elements.
Work began on Monday (11 June) when approximately 1400 chairs were removed from the cathedral’s Nave to allow preparations to begin for the dinner. During the week work will include installing equipment for the sound and light projection, erecting catering marquees and the delivery and laying of 70 tables for the dinner.
The headline sponsor for the event is Langleys Solicitors, principal sponsor Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School and major sponsor UBS. A range of items have also been donated for the fundraising dinner including a specially designed sapphire and diamond Yorkshire Rose necklace by Ogden Harrogate, champagne by Joseph Perrier, courtesy of Field and Fawcett, and fillet steak by Dovecote Park.
The stained-glass window that was expertly created by the York Glaziers Trust for the 2016 Welcome to Yorkshire Chelsea Flower Show Garden has also been gifted as an auction prize by the tourism body.
Neil Sanderson, Director of the York Minster Fund, said: “We’re hugely excited to see the Nave being transformed for this weekend’s fundraising events. York Minster has a very special collection of stained glass. Its windows hold one of the world’s most important collections of medieval glass with the earliest pieces dating back to c.1160.
“Currently, over 70 of these irreplaceable windows have no protection from the elements, leaving them exposed to damage and decay. The funds raised from these events will directly support our work to provide protection to this glass, buying much needed time for conservation work, and we’re therefore hugely grateful to all our sponsors and to everyone who plans to visit and support us over the weekend.”
To kick start the fundraising programme, the York Minster Fund (YMF) is being supported by an endowment grant of up to £1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). This means that for the first £1m raised over the next three years, every £1 given by the public will be matched by YMF and then by the HLF. So for every £1 donated by the public, at least £4 will be added to the conservation project pot.
Tickets for the events on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June cost £5 and can be purchased through the Minster’s website at www.yorkminster.org. Doors open at 8pm, when visitors can experience the cathedral at dusk, with its Nave cleared of chairs and filled with music from its Grand Organ, before the sound and light projection is shown at 9.30pm. Last admission is at 9pm and the event will finish at approximately 10pm.
Each £5 ticket will directly contribute £20 to our stained glass conservation project, thanks to match funding from the York Minster Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund.