Revisiting York Minster’s Rose Window

A skilled team of heritage craftspeople are beginning a significant restoration project at York Minster which will include an up-close analysis of the iconic Rose Window.

41 years ago, a devastating fire tore through York Minster leaving the precious stone and glass of the South Transept heavily damaged. The cathedral’s Rose Window, a symbol of the union between the Yorkist and Lancastrian houses that had looked out over the city for 500 years, was subjected to 450C heat and cracked in 40,000 places.

The new project will see the Minster’s talented stonemasons working alongside experts from the York Glaziers Trust to conserve three huge lancet windows in the cathedral’s South Transept which depict Saints Peter, Paul, Wilfred, and William of York. Due to their positioning, the lancets were not subjected to the same extreme thermal stress as the Rose Window. However, centuries of exposure to the elements have rendered the medieval glass vulnerable to corrosion and paint loss. Revolutionary protective glazing will be added to the windows to help safeguard these precious works of art well into the next century and beyond.

Professor Sarah Brown, Director of the York Glaziers Trust, explained: “These windows have a history stretching back many hundreds of years. They can be attributed to the workshop of Robert Petty in the late 15th century and have undergone a variety of restorations and additions, as well as being completely removed during the Second World War.

“It was Peter Gibson OBE, former superintendent of the York Glaziers Trust, who insisted that the Rose Window could be saved after the 1984 fire. At the time, some people saw its perilous condition as an opportunity for a completely new stained glass commission! Thankfully, his advice was heeded and the glaziers worked tirelessly to restore the artwork.

“It’s a real honour for our team to be back in the South Transept again, both to admire the work of our predecessors and to play our part in ensuring that this masterpiece is preserved for many generations to come.”

Chris Loughran, the newly-appointed Director of York Minster Fund, said: “The York Minster Fund was created in 1967 during one of the Minster’s greatest challenges in recent history – the threatened collapse of the Central Tower. Since then, we have supported the cathedral through a range of challenges and opportunities, including the restoration following the 1984 fire and the creation of the new Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management.

“We are incredibly grateful to all of our supporters who have given generously towards this campaign. In particular, we want to thank the Julia Rausing Trust who awarded us a £500,000 grant in 2024. This generous donation has supported the building of the Minster’s Centre of Excellence, the restoration of three windows in the cathedral’s South Transept, and a close analysis of the Rose Window. These projects will deliver far-reaching impact in York Minster and across the heritage sector.”

It took four years to rebuild and restore York Minster after the 1984 fire. The new scaffolding, which has been erected inside and outside the South Transept, will allow members of the Minster team to access the Rose Window and review the repair works undertaken in this period. The analysis will reveal how the restoration methods and materials have stood the test of time and whether the window needs further repairs.

Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster, added: “The South Transept is symbolic of the determination and dedication of all those who have been entrusted with this magnificent building over the centuries. Four decades ago, a multidisciplinary team of skilled craftspeople worked to sensitively restore the cathedral after that devastating fire. They, like all of those who had come before them in the Minster’s history, used the very best tools and techniques available to them at the time, being forward-thinking in their approach to the repairs.

“We now have a fantastic opportunity to reexamine their work to allow us to better understand the Rose Window and how we might care for it into the future.”

Go behind the scenes at York Minster’s Heritage Fair

Visitors will be amongst the first to go behind the scenes at York Minster’s Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management at a one-off Heritage Fair on Saturday 2 August.

The day’s events will allow members of the public to explore two new buildings – the Heritage Quad and the Works & Technology Hub – which together constitute the next generation of heritage conservation at the Minster: The Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management. Built to the highest environmental standards, the buildings host both traditional craft skills and the latest in stonecutting technology, powered by solar panels and fed by rainwater capture systems.

Visitors will also meet the Minster’s stonemasons in their new Heritage Quad, view some of the incredible craft skills used on site, and explore the latest in digital technologies used to care for the Minster at the Works & Technology Hub, where visitors will also be able to meet the skilled conservators and craftspeople of the York Glaziers Trust.

The Centre of Excellence represents a significant development not just for York’s historic buildings, but for worldwide heritage conservation: the Minster’s team consulted with heritage estates as far away as Christchurch Cathedral, New Zealand when designing and building the Centre. The Heritage Fair will bring this international community together in a series of livestreamed lectures from global partners on Friday 1 August – Yorkshire Day!

York Minster and York Glaziers Trust have long histories of training the next generation of craftspeople, represented on the day by a careers pavilion, located in front of the York Minster Refectory, with representatives from across the heritage sector.

Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct, outlined the significance of the Heritage Fair: “Saturday 2 August will be a special day for us as welcome visitors to the Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and  Estate Management – a major development for us at the Minster, and arguably one of the most important projects of our adopted Neighbourhood Plan.

“The day will give everyone an opportunity to come and see the new Works & Technology Hub on Deangate and the incredible Heritage Quad, which houses our stonemasons and apprentice accommodation. We aim to inspire the next generation of heritage craftspeople and build pride in this major development for York and the wider heritage sector.

“We are incredibly grateful to all the donors, supporters and partners who have made the Centre of Excellence possible – including significant donations from the Garfield Weston Foundation, Julia Rausing Trust and York Minster Fund, our lead fundraising partners. The Heritage Fair has also been funded via the generosity of the Friends of York Minster and PMJ Masonry.

“The Centre represents a gear change in how we care for historic buildings in the 21st century, carefully balancing traditional skills and using technology as one of our many tools.  It also provides a blueprint for others as we continue to share knowledge and new opportunities for collaboration. We are delighted to be welcoming many of our national and international partners who will join us for the Fair. Please do come and celebrate the new Centre with us.”

Professor Sarah Brown, Director of the York Glaziers Trust, said: “While stained glass is an ancient craft, its care and conservation in the 21st century can only benefit from access to the cutting-edge facilities and training opportunities afforded by the Centre of Excellence. We are delighted to be participating in this exciting event.”

Free, pre-booked tickets are required to visit the Heritage Quad and the Works and Technology Hub. Tickets are available here: York Minster | Heritage Fair. No tickets are required to visit the Careers Pavilion.

York Minster goes for Eco Gold – and succeeds!

On World Environment Day (Thursday 5 June), York Minster has announced that it has received a Gold Eco Church Award. The achievement follows many years of strategic and sustained action to address the climate crisis and a commitment to better care for God’s creation, now and into the future.

The prestigious award is the highest accolade in the Eco Church programme which is operated by A Rocha UK, a Christian charity working to protect and restore the natural world. Their national environmental and ecological programme inspires and equips churches, cathedrals, and dioceses to care for creation through their worship, buildings, land, community engagement, and lifestyles.

York Minster can trace its history back nearly 1400 years to its founding for the baptism of King Edwin of Northumbria in 627AD. This long history has not stopped the cathedral’s staff, volunteers, and members of its worshipping community in being forward thinking in their pledge to fight climate change. The cathedral’s Vision and Strategy for 2030 makes a commitment to establish York Minster as a pioneering, low carbon heritage estate with environmental sustainability integrated throughout behaviours, business practices, and building innovation.

Following a Bronze Award in 2016 and Silver in 2017, the cathedral has taken significant action to become more sustainable through:

• The installation of 184 solar panels on the roof of the cathedral, as well as three other solar installations across the precinct;

• The creation of Minster Gardens and the redevelopment of College Green as two areas of green space in the city centre;

• The retrofit of York Minster Refectory using sustainable technologies;

• The establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management combining the preservation of craft skills, pursuit of a low carbon estate, and the expansion of green spaces.

Other initiatives have included Creationtide celebrations, nature trails for children and families, participation in York Environment Weeks, the resowing of wildflower meadows, a reduction of plastic packaging for products sold in the Minster Shops, and the installation of air source heat pumps and rainwater capture across the precinct.

York Minster’s ambition to develop a low carbon heritage estate is encapsulated in the York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Plan which set a community action to achieve Gold Eco Church status by 2025. The Plan was adopted in 2022 and was developed by the York Minster Precinct Neighbourhood Forum, made up of residents, those who work in the precinct area, and its Ward Councillors, and was subject to extensive public consultation.

The Reverend Maggie McLean, York Minster’s Canon Missioner and Chair of the Environmental Sustainability Group, said: “Humanity is the creation of a Creator God. We are called by God to care for this planet we call home. We all recognise that we have not cared for the earth with the self-sacrificing and nurturing love that it requires of us. We all need to repent for our part in causing the current environmental crisis that has led to climate change.

“The Fifth Mark of Mission is ‘to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth’. From the Gardens Team who carefully tend to the 7 hectares of land in our care, to the Stonemasons who work tirelessly to repair the damage caused by a changing climate, we have recognised our unique responsibility as the Mother Church of the Northern Province to lead by example in the hope that we can inspire other cathedrals and historic buildings to follow in our footsteps.

“York Minster’s work towards this award is our part in trying to redress this balance and a commitment, by small acts of continual change, to tread more lightly upon this earth, for the good of all humanity and for the flourishing of all creation.”

Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster, added: “We are delighted to be able to announce our achievement on World Environment Day, a day when we can come together to call for collective action and systemic change.

“Our adopted Neighbourhood Plan has helped us make significant changes in a restrictive heritage environment, working collaboratively with City of York Council and Historic England. Climate change poses a substantial long-term threat to the fabric of York Minster and the Precinct and so our sensitive interventions, balanced against the significance of the Minster and its estate, becomes increasingly important as we get close to 2030 – the ambitious net zero target set by both City of York Council and the Church of England.

“Our work to care for God’s creation does not stop here. Sustainability will remain at the heart of all we do here at York Minster as we drive towards net zero and ensure that future generations can enjoy this magnificent building as we do today”.

York Minster will host a Heritage Festival on the first weekend of August. As part of the Festival, York Minster will be lit up in green to celebrate the award and a special service of Choral Evensong will focus on sustainability. More details will be released in the coming weeks.

York Minster marks women’s war memorial centenary with two new exhibitions

On Tuesday 24 June, York Minster will mark the 100th anniversary of the rededication of the Five Sisters Window as a memorial to women who died in the First World War. Ahead of the anniversary, on Thursday 5 June two new exhibitions will open inside the cathedral focusing on the women, past and present, who have shaped life at York Minster.  

The Five Sisters Window is a storied but often overlooked artwork; its grisaille glass makes it strikingly different to other windows in York Minster. Completed around 1250, the window is made up of five lancets, each over 16 metres high and 1.5 metres wide. Its rededication as a war memorial was the vision of two inspirational women: Helen Little and Almyra Gray. Together, they established Britain’s first and only national memorial to women of the First World War. 

The exhibitions, which form part of York Minster’s new programme for 2025: Visions, Voices, Vocations, are:  

Visions, Voices, Vocations: Commemorating Women of the First World War 

In the North Transept, beneath the Five Sisters Window, a new exhibition titled ‘Visions, Voices, Vocations: Commemorating Women of the First World War’ will explore the story behind the window and the vision and inspiring campaign that saw it become part of a memorial to women who died in service during the war. 

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about some of the women commemorated in the memorial and their wartime roles, as well as York Minster’s ongoing research.   

Visions, Voices, Vocations: Celebrating Women in York Minster   

A new portrait exhibition from award-winning photographer Olivia Hemingway will highlight the irreplaceable contributions of women across the life of the Minster. 

Titled ‘Visions, Voices, Vocations: Celebrating Women in York Minster’, the exhibition will be shown in the Minster’s stunning medieval Chapter House across high-definition screens.  

The emotive installation will capture just some of the inspirational women who contribute to the life and mission of the Minster today, ranging from its police force and musicians to stonemasons and conservators. 

The exhibitions will open on Thursday 5 June and will run alongside special ‘Women in the Minster’ tours with York Minster’s expert volunteer guides following in the footsteps of influential women including Saint Hilda of Whitby, Saint Æthelburh of Kent, and Saint Helena of Constantinople. Both exhibitions and the tours are included with a general admission ticket. 

Commemorative Evensong  

The Minster will hold a special service of Choral Evensong on Tuesday 24 June at 5.30pm to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the rededication. The service will start in the Minster’s Quire and end in the North Transept beneath the Five Sisters Window.

The Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, said: “This anniversary is an opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of women in the First World War who took on diverse and dangerous roles, often as volunteers. 

“Our archive holds copies of the order of service from 100 years ago when the Five Sisters Window was rededicated in a ceremony with the Duchess of York. It is clear from this precious document just how important it was to the people of York, and those beyond, that there was a dedicated memorial here for women who died during the war. Archbishop Cosmo Lang, who preached at the service, summarised the cathedral’s support for this in saying: ‘You here present who mourn their passing from your homes will know that their names will remain for ever here, written on the Minster’s heart.’ 

“Today, the women who worship, work, and volunteer here are just as valued and important. This programme of activities and events seeks to highlight their diverse contributions and shine a light on those vocations which are perhaps less known, such as those of our female stonemasons.” 

Dr Helen Rawson, Director of Collections, Cultural Heritage and Learning at York Minster, added: “It is incredibly exciting to be opening two new exhibitions inside the cathedral, both offering different interpretations of our theme ‘Visions, Voices, Vocations’. 

“The exhibition in the Chapter House will allow the public to ‘meet’ some of the women at York Minster through beautiful images captured by award-winning photographer Olivia Hemingway. It has been a real joy to collaborate with Hemingway on this project and to see these people through her eyes. 

“The exhibition in the North Transept explores the inspiring campaign to fundraise for the memorial and provides an insight into the role of women in the war – a subject which we know is close to many people’s hearts – especially in a year that sees us mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War. 

“As much as this programme has been about looking back at the work already done to commemorate women, we are also developing a list of women missing from the memorial’s roll of honour, checking against the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and other sources. We will seek to commemorate these women too.” 

York Minster seeks three new apprentices

York Minster is seeking three new apprentices from all walks of life to join its multidisciplinary team of skilled heritage craftspeople who care for the cathedral and its seven-hectare precinct.

The apprentices will join the cathedral at an exciting time as the new Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management opens its doors. The Centre has established the York Minster precinct as a world-class campus facility for research, education, and training in traditional craft skills, which the apprentices will both benefit from and contribute towards. The Centre is at the cutting edge, integrating the latest in technology and new workspaces, all whilst meeting the highest standards in environmental sustainability.

No two days are the same when working across an ancient estate of listed buildings ranging from the 12th century Old Palace and the Minster itself, to the many residential and commercial properties that complete the precinct.

The new apprentices will join a team passionate about caring for this very special place at the heart of the historic City of York. Their roles will be crucial in passing on this fragile building to the next generation, in a heritage estate that is rapidly evolving to face the challenges of the 21st century.

The apprenticeships available are:

Apprentice Electrician 

The Apprentice Electrician will play a key role working alongside our Electrical Engineer as York Minster continues its decarbonisation journey taking a leading role in heritage adaptation through the use of renewable energies.

Apprentice Painter & Decorator  

The Apprentice Painter & Decorator will have an eye for detail, creative flair and enthusiasm for the historic built environment. They will work closely with our wider Property Development Team to ensure that the cathedral and the other buildings within in the precinct remain in good decorative order.

Apprentice Stonemason  

The Apprentice Stonemason will learn the ancient craft of stonemasonry, alongside gaining hands-on experience with the latest digital technologies. They will use a wide range of tools to help combat some of the emerging challenges, such as climate change, which historic buildings like York Minster are facing.
Cate Birch, Head of Fundraising and Development at York Minster Fund, said: “As the lead fundraisers for York Minster, York Minster Fund are delighted to be continuing our support of a range of skills-based apprenticeships at the cathedral.

“With an urgent need for new recruits into the sector to meet construction and heritage conservation demand, these roles are crucial in enabling us to maintain and preserve our magnificent Minster for many generations to come.

“We are deeply grateful to all our charitable supporters for their funding, which ensures we can continue this vital work to the highest standards.”
 

Applying for the apprenticeships:  

These roles are open to candidates from all walks of life, and the Minster welcomes applications from those without specific prior experience in these fields.

Full role descriptions and details of how to apply can be found on the Minster’s website: York Minster | Vacancies

York Minster launches Talent Awards – commissioning new artworks to celebrate its 1400th anniversary

2027 will see York Minster celebrating the 1400th anniversary of its founding for the baptism of King Edwin of Northumbria in 627AD. Today, the Minster is working alongside York-based curator Cherie Federico to bring three contemporary artists into the historic building to tell this epic tale anew.

The commissions will form the backdrop to year-long celebrations that will reflect on the Minster’s 14 centuries of unbroken mission, as well as setting a course for its future in a programme that takes its title from the baptismal vows: “With the help of God, we will…”.

The £10,000 Talent Awards provide opportunities for two new and emerging artists to exhibit alongside an established artist in a series of largescale, multidisciplinary installations in some of the most awe-inspiring settings. The two commissions comprise of a Sound Commission, inviting an artist to create an immersive audio experience that resonates within the Minster’s vast, atmospheric spaces, and a Contemporary Art Commission, open to visual and interdisciplinary artists working in sculpture, installation, moving image, digital media, photography and beyond.

The Talent Awards are open to anyone anywhere in the world and are an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing narrative of a space that has stood as a centre of culture, craft, and community for nearly 1,400 years.

York Minster has partnered with Cherie Federico, Director of Aesthetica and a leading figure in York’s creative community, to commission a bold new artistic response to the cathedral’s 1400th anniversary. Aesthetica, one of the UK’s most influential contemporary art and culture platforms, began with its widely read magazine and has since grown into a powerhouse that includes the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival and the Aesthetica Art Prize, which attract talent from across the world. This collaboration marks a significant moment in the Minster’s 1400-year history, uniting heritage with cutting-edge contemporary practice.

The Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, said: “No visitor to the Minster leaves without a sense of the artistry that generations have poured into this place. I am delighted to be continuing this great legacy as we explore the moment that marks the start of a person’s journey with Christ – baptism – and the moment that, in a way, marked the start of York Minster. These exciting artistic commissions offer a chance to rediscover, reassess and reassert our mission today through the lens of contemporary art.”

Cherie Federico, Director of Aesthetica, said: “It’s an honour to be working with York Minster as they mark 1400 years of history and faith. This anniversary is a moment to reflect on the Minster’s incredible legacy, but also a way to look ahead and invite new voices to interpret that story in meaningful and contemporary ways. We’re especially interested in how artists can explore themes of water and baptism – powerful symbols of renewal and transformation. These concepts offer rich ground for creative exploration across all disciplines, from sculpture and installation to moving image and digital media.

“We’re looking for bold, innovative artists with fresh perspectives – those who can connect the past with the present in ways that resonate with today’s audiences.

“The selected artist will receive a £10,000 commission and the opportunity to exhibit their work for 10 months inside one of the most iconic spaces in Europe. It’s an extraordinary platform for any artist, and we’re excited to see how contemporary practice can illuminate history, create dialogue and bring new energy into the Minster’s continuing story.”

Artists interested in submitting a response to the brief should go to https://aestheticamagazine.com/york-minster-talent-award-open-for-submissions/ for more information and a link to the application form. The deadline for submissions is 9 June 2025 with the winners announced in late July 2025.

Heavy metal, improvisation, and wild animals: York Minster’s 2025 organ programme

Acclaimed musicians from across the musical world are ready to pull out all the stops in a diverse programme of organ concerts at York Minster.

The cathedral’s popular Summer Organ Recitals will return with celebrated soloists joining York Minster’s own accomplished organists. The series will be opened by Wayne Marshall OBE, a world-renowned conductor and master of improvisation who will include some of his own compositions alongside classics and live improvisations in his dazzling style. He will be followed by Jan Liebermann, one of the most promising young artists in the organ world who is well-known for his ability to play complex pieces entirely from memory; Daniel Cook, a performer with a unique understanding of early-twentieth-century organs like York Minster’s having recorded the complete works of many classic British organ composers; and Carolyn Craig, an award-winning American organist who champions female composers as the co-founder of the platform Amplify Female Composers.

York Minster’s own acclaimed musicians – Robert Sharpe, Director of Music, and Benjamin Morris, Assistant Director of Music, who are both experienced soloists performing in the UK and abroad – complete the line-up for six nights of spectacular organ music. The recitals will take place on Thursday evenings from 17 July to 21 August, beginning at 7pm. Tickets are now available via the York Minster website, starting from just £7.50.

Following sold out performances of The Nutcracker and Peter and the Wolf, York Minster will also be offering another family-sized exploration of the organ. Young listeners will be guided through Camille Saint-Saëns’ The Carnival of the Animals with the chance to get up-close to the organ to see how the instrument is played. The familiar and accessible composition will be accompanied by a narrator sharing fun facts about the wild animals that roam through Saint-Saëns’ creation and York Minster’s history. The short performance, given by Benjamin Morris, will take place on Wednesday 28 May.

The Summer Organ Recitals and family organ concert will follow the upcoming Organic Metal showcase which will see David Pipe, former Assistant Director of Music at York Minster, performing classics from Black Sabbath and Deep Purple on York Minster’s Grand Organ alongside classical organ pieces. Plague of Angels, an electro-symphonic-metal powerhouse, will present their own heavy metal music enhanced by the power and grandeur of the organ. Tickets for Organic Metal sold out in less than a week, with more than 10% of attendees benefitting from a discounted ticket for those aged 27 and under.

Robert Sharpe, Director of Music at York Minster, said: “Organ music has played a central role in worship at York Minster for nearly 1,000 years. We have carefully crafted a programme of concerts and recitals that reflects this long and important history, but that also displays the incredible diversity of the organ and those who play and listen to it.

“We have a fantastic line-up of guest soloists set to perform at our Summer Organ Recitals, all of whom will showcase our Grand Organ in a different way. I am looking forward to hearing them perform at this fourth series of concerts since the organ’s expert refurbishment by Harrison & Harrison.

“The heavy metal concert and performance of The Carnival of the Animals complete our 2025 organ concert offering, which we hope will encourage people to engage with the instrument in new and exciting ways.

“I am very proud that we are once again able to offer discounted tickets for students and those aged 27 and under to allow as many people as possible to attend the concerts.

“Do join us for what promises to be another great year of organ music at York Minster.”

Tickets and event information:  

Organic Metal: presented by Plague of Angels
Friday 25 April, 7.30pm
Tickets for this event have sold out.

The Carnival of the Animals
Wednesday 28 May, 7pm
Tickets priced at £7 children, £10 for adults, and £30 for families will be available via www.yorkminster.org in April.

Summer Organ Recitals
Thursdays 17 July – 21 August, 7pm
Tickets for the recitals are available now via www.yorkminster.org priced at £15, with a combined season ticket price of £75 for all six recitals. A concessionary price of £7.50 for those aged 27 and under is also available, as well as a combined season ticket price of £38.

Beneath the Cross: Lent, Holy Week & Easter at York Minster

York Minster has today announced its programme of services, events and activities to mark Lent, Holy Week and Easter 2025.

The Lent Cross, the central symbol of the Christian Faith, will be suspended from the Central Tower on Shrove Tuesday and will remain in place until The Day of Pentecost. The six metres tall installation, constructed from wooden scaffolding boards in the Minster’s workshop, serves as a visual reminder throughout the season of Jesus’ journey to the cross and beyond.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday (5 March), Christians in York and across the world will keep a season of penitence culminating in the observance of Holy Week. This week recalls the passion, crucifixion and burial of Jesus, and on Easter Day (20 April) the joyful celebration of his resurrection from the dead.

The Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, said: “The journey through Lent and Holy Week to Easter is tumultuous. We follow Jesus through periods of fear, betrayal, persecution and death, but also through friendship, hope, trust and glorious resurrection. At York Minster, we follow this journey from beneath the great cross that hangs in the cathedral’s nave. At a time when we live with so much uncertainty in our lives, the cross reminds us of the certain promise of God’s enduring and undying love for the world.

“I am thrilled that the Reverend Canon James Walters, founding director of the London School of Economics’ Faith Centre, will be joining us in Holy Week to deliver a sermon series called Bearing Fruit from the Seed that Dies. A leading expert in interfaith leadership and religious literacy, he will bring a unique perspective to the story of Christ’s passion at a time of considerable global upheaval.

“I hope that many will join us both in person and online for our worship through this holy season, and will discover anew the power of this, the ultimate story of redemption and resurrection.”

Key events and services are:

Ash Wednesday – Wednesday 5 March 
The Minster will be given to prayer and worship on Ash Wednesday. All are welcome, whether to join acts of worship, to pray on their own or to experience the space.
Services with Imposition of Ashes:
7.50am: Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes
12.30pm: Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes
5.30pm: Choral Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes (with Allegri’s Miserere)

Lent Compline – Thursdays 13 March – 10 April, 8.30pm  
On Thursdays during Lent (other than on Thursday 6 March), The Ebor Singers, an associate choir of York Minster, will sing Compline in the Quire.
The ancient monastic service of Compline is a contemplative, candle-lit moment of stillness and simplicity. This form of night prayer brings the day to a close and prepares us for sleep in the knowledge we are known and loved by God. Traditionally after this service we are encouraged to enter into a period of silence.

Handel’s Messiah – Saturday 22 March, 7pm  
Experience George Frideric Handel’s glorious Messiah performed by the world-renowned Choir of York Minster in the cathedral’s awe-inspiring Nave, alongside an accomplished orchestra and celebrated soloists.

Minster Mash-Up: Mothering Sunday – Saturday 29 March, 10am
At this special event, families are invited to join a short service where we give thanks for those who mother us and for our Minster, the Mother Church of the Northern Province.

Holy Week sermon series from the Director of the LSE Faith Centre
The Reverend Canon James Walters, Director of the Faith Centre at the London School of Economics will preach throughout Holy Week, offering a series of sermons entitled Bearing Fruit from the Seed that Dies, based on the fruits of the Spirit from the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians.
Themed sermons will be given at the following services:
‘Love’ at the Procession and Eucharist for Palm Sunday, 13 April
‘Joy’ at Midday Eucharist and Compline, Monday 14 April
‘Peace’ at Compline, Tuesday 15 April
‘Patience’ at Midday Eucharist and Compline, Wednesday 16 April
‘Kindness’ at the Sung Eucharist with Washing of Feet, Thursday 17 April
‘Generosity, Faithfulness & Gentleness’ at The Three Hours’ Devotion with the Liturgy of Good Friday, Friday 18 April
‘Self control’ at The Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter, Saturday 19 April

Palm Sunday – Sunday 13 April  
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter Day. On this day, we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and reflect upon the Passion story.
Procession and Eucharist for Palm Sunday, 10.30am 
The service begins outside the Minster with the blessing of palm crosses before the congregation, led by a donkey, processes into the cathedral as a reminder of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The service then turns from triumph to sorrow as the Choir of York Minster sings the Passion Gospel, marking the beginning of Jesus’ journey towards the cross.
Choral Evensong, 4pm 
A service of Choral Evensong which prepares us for our walk with Christ through Holy Week.
Stainer’s Crucifixion, 7.30pm
The Ebor Singers, an associate choir of York Minster, will perform John Stainer’s Crucifixion. The work incorporates congregational hymns with a recounting of the passion of Christ.

Compline in Holy Week, Monday 14, Tuesday 15 & Wednesday 16 April, 7.30pm  
This beautiful candlelit service of night prayer or ‘compline’ will be sung by The Ebor Singers, an associate choir of York Minster. Compline is a form of prayer said at the completion of the day, and traditionally after this service we are encouraged to enter into a period of silence.

Chrism Eucharist – Tuesday 15 April, 11am
The Chrism Eucharist takes its name from Chrismation (anointing). The Archbishop of York will preach and will bless the oils used at services of baptism, confirmation, and ordination and for healing. The Archbishop will gather clergy from around the Diocese to renew the vows made at their ordinations, remembering the ministry to which they are called.

Maundy Thursday – Thursday 17 April 
Sung Eucharist with Washing of Feet, 7pm
The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday recalls the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples in the upper room, before his arrest and trial. We remember too that Jesus called us to love and serve one another through the washing of feet. As we bless and share bread and wine, we follow his command to proclaim his death until he comes in glory.
The Watch, 8.30pm
The Watch follows the Maundy Thursday Liturgy. The Watch – a type of vigil – recalls the time Jesus spent in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest, trial and crucifixion.

Good Friday, Friday 18 April  
On Good Friday, Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus. The Minster will be given to prayer and worship on Good Friday. All are welcome, whether to join acts of worship, to pray on their own or to experience the space.
Good Friday Family Service, 10am  
A service for all the family reflecting on the events of Good Friday and on hope in the face of loss.
The Three Hours’ Devotion with the Liturgy of Good Friday, 12noon 
We begin the Three Hours’ Devotion with a service of meditation, music and prayers with periods of silence and addresses. At 1.30pm, the formal Liturgy of Good Friday will commence with the singing of the Passion, prayers of intercession and the veneration of the cross.
Choral Evensong for Good Friday, 5.30pm  
During this service the Choir of York Minster will sing Antonio Lotti’s anthem for 8 voices, Crucifixus etiam pro nobis, a traditional passiontide piece.

Holy Saturday – Saturday 19 April  
The Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter, 8pm
This Eucharist moves from darkness to light. We recall God’s saving actions through time, culminating in the Resurrection in the light of the first Easter Day.
The Easter Vigil marks the end of the emptiness of Holy Saturday, and leads into the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The Archbishop of York with preside at this service and candidates will reaffirm their faith through confirmation.

Easter Day, Sunday 20 April 
On Easter Day, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. The Minster will be given to prayer and worship on Easter Sunday. All are welcome, whether to join acts of worship, to pray on their own or to experience the space.
Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer, 8am  
A simple said service in the traditional language of the Book of Common Prayer.
Choral Matins on Easter Day, 10am 
Following the pattern of Matins from the Book of Common Prayer, with sung psalms, canticles and an anthem.
Festal Eucharist, 11am
We greet the risen Lord with joy, proclaiming Alleluia, Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! The Archbishop of York will preach and preside at this service.
Festal Evensong, 4pm 
A great day of rejoicing culminates in an uplifting service of Choral Evensong.

“Let there be light” – 184 solar panels blessed on the roof of York Minster

184 solar panels on the roof of York Minster will be switched on for the first time on 9 January 2025 during a blessing ceremony led by the Dean of York.

The discreetly placed panels, installed over the last four months on the south Quire roof, will generate 70,000 kWh of energy, enough to deliver a third of the Minster’s electricity requirements. This is the fourth solar installation on the Minster estate, which together will generate 120,000 kWh of energy per year – enough to power 41 average UK homes.

The solar panel installation is one of many projects underway across the Minster as part of its Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted in 2022 following 32 weeks of public consultation. The plan, which has recently attracted international awards for innovation, is designed to address the challenges of the 21st century, principally responding to the climate emergency and the impacts of climate change on the fragile masterpiece that is York Minster’s 800-year-old building.

Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct at York Minster, explained: “Extreme weather, brought about by climate change is the greatest threat to the fabric of York Minster. These solar panels signify a significant step forward in our decarbonisation journey and is a significant project of our Neighbourhood Plan.

“This project joins our existing solar slates on the York Minster Refectory, solar panels at the Heritage Quad and solar film on the Works & Technology Hub, to help reduce our energy consumption by a third – a huge leap forward toward a net zero future.

“The closing statement of COP29 reminded us of the perilous state of our climate when the UN Secretary General noted ‘COP29 comes at the close of a brutal year – a year seared by record temperatures, and scarred by climate disaster, all as emissions continue to rise’.

“Our adopted Neighbourhood Plan is delivering ambitious change in our estate as we take bold action to get our buildings to net zero. These renewable energy systems, together with retrofit to insulate our buildings and reduce energy consumption, should be celebrated as a major step forward and show that it if we can do it at York Minster, everyone can and should.”

All is calm, all is bright – all is green – at York Minster this Advent

York Minster’s Advent Procession will mark the start of Advent and look forward to the coming of the light in the world, as well as showcasing its commitment to address the climate emergency when its iconic west front will be illuminated for the first time by new energy-efficient lighting.

The installation of the Minster’s new external LED lighting scheme is complemented by 184 new solar panels, currently being installed on its south quire roof, which will reduce the Minster’s energy consumption by around a third.

The lighting scheme, paid for by the Minster and City of York Council, has been designed to minimise light pollution, ensuring that the Minster’s medieval west front retains its prominence on the city’s skyline well into the night without disturbing the neighbours.

The Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, said: “Every year, our Advent Procession starts in darkness with just a single candle illuminating the building.

“This year, the light will spread out into the city as the west front lights blaze to life, turning the Minster into a beacon shining over the historic City of York.’

The switch-on of the new lighting scheme has been timed to coincide with Advent Sunday in a season the Church of England has themed ‘Calm and Bright’.

Inside the Minster, worshippers will also be in darkness until a single candle is lit and the flame shared around everyone present until the building is illuminated by hundreds of candles from those gathered within.

There will be more lights on display inside the building for Advent with the launch of the Minster’s Christmas Tree Festival which opens with a light switch-on at ‘Minster Mash-Up’, York Minster’s special service for children and families, on Saturday 30 November at 10am. The Festival is open during general admission times until 5 January.

The Dean added: ‘This year, the light will spread further still as the Minster’s Nave, Chapter House, Lady Chapel and north quire aisle will be illuminated by over seventy Christmas trees, each decorated and lit by charities, schools and organisations from across the city.

Entry to the Minster is free for all who wish to light a candle and say a prayer. You can find the Minster’s Advent and Christmas programme in full here yorkminster.org.

York Minster’s Advent Procession will take place on Sunday 1 December 5.30pm and can be watched live on the Minster’s YouTube channel.

National Schools Singing Programme raises the Wreath at York Minster

As doors up and down the country are being decorated with Advent wreaths of holly and ivy to the sounds of Michael Bublé or Carols from Kings, York Minster’s talented Flower Arrangers are preparing to do much the same, but both the wreath and the backing track need to be a little bigger to fill the Minster’s cavernous central crossing.

Fortunately, the expert team will be joined by children from the Minster’s Schools Singing Programme to raise the spectacular 3-metre wide Advent Wreath during a special event on 29 November at 11.30am.

The installation of 184 solar panels on the roof of York Minster is underway

184 solar panels are being installed on York Minster’s roof in a major step towards reducing the carbon footprint of one of the largest cathedral estates in the world. The solar panels are expected to generate nearly 70,000 kWh of energy each year, around a third of the Minster’s total energy consumption, reducing annual carbon emissions by approximately 13 tonnes of CO₂.

The panels, which are currently being installed on the South Quire roof, join a raft of other solar initiatives already generating electricity across the precinct. In 2021, York Minster secured planning permission and Listed Building Consent to install the first solar slates on a Grade II Listed Building within York. The roof formed part of the York Minster Refectory, which was opened by His Majesty King Charles III in April 2023. By the end of 2024, the cathedral will be producing 118,000 kWh of energy per year, enough to power 44 average UK homes.

Harnessing solar energy is a cornerstone of the Minster’s drive to reduce its carbon footprint in line with the Church of England’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030. The installation is one of many ground-breaking projects taking place across the precinct as part of its Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted in 2022 following public referendum and 32 weeks of public consultation. The Plan recently attracted an award for “Innovator of the Year” at the Future for Religious Heritage, the European network for historic places of worship. At its heart, the Plan is an unflinching commitment to address the climate emergency with an ambition to decarbonise the precinct through extensive retrofit and the introduction of renewables.

Alex McCallion, Director of Works and Precinct, said: “I think we all realise the scale of the challenges facing the world at the moment. I am pleased that the Minster is taking great strides to tackle these challenges, making generational, large-scale changes across the Minster Precinct to combat climate change by reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.

“Doing this requires a real team effort, whether it is our Works Department adapting to new, more sustainable workspaces and equipment, or our Gardens Team creating new green spaces for the public to enjoy.

“I am really proud of how, at every level of the Minster’s operation, we are rising to the challenge of Net Zero by 2030.”

Through close partnership working with City of York Council, Historic England and other key stakeholders, the Minster has created a suite of bespoke planning policies enabling other initiatives, including the retrofitting of many of the historic buildings under the Minster’s care, to improve their energy efficiency, a water recycling system for the Minster’s new stone-cutting saws, the introduction of electric car chargers, and improvements to the green spaces around the Minster.