Conservation specialists at York Minster have announced a landmark fundraising campaign to safeguard the cathedral’s internationally significant collection of stained glass, beginning with the conservation of its iconic Rose Window. Launching on Yorkshire Day, 1 August 2026, the appeal aims to raise £1.4 million to protect one of the nation’s most treasured stained-glass collections from the growing impact of climate change.

Generous donations from The Julia Rausing Trust and private donors have enabled work to date, but York Minster receives no regular financial support from either the UK Government or the Church of England, making the generosity of donors essential to the protection of one of Britain’s greatest heritage treasures.

The Rose Window is one of York Minster’s most recognisable features and an enduring symbol of the city’s history. The window came to international attention in 1984 when lightning struck the South Transept, sparking a devastating fire. Enduring temperatures of around 450°C, the Rose Window suffered approximately 40,000 cracks across its 73 panels.

In the aftermath of the fire, conservation specialists from The York Glaziers Trust undertook pioneering work to restore the fragile glass. Yet, a 2025 survey revealed that, while the fire-damaged panels were stabilised using the best methods available at the time, the window is now facing a new and growing threat: climate change.

Located high within the cathedral’s south-facing elevation, the Rose Window is particularly vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation, as well as increased moisture levels. These environmental pressures are accelerating stone decay, damaging painted surfaces, and causing the gradual failure of historic materials.

To combat this deterioration, teams from York Minster’s Centre for Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management are working alongside The York Glaziers Trust to deliver a major programme of conservation. The medieval stonework and stained glass will be carefully restored by expert conservators, while a new layer of UV- and IR-resistant protective glazing will be installed externally, creating a sacrificial barrier between the fragile historic glass and the elements.

“The Rose Window is considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of York Minster’s priceless stained-glass collection. Whilst the work of my predecessors has held up remarkably well, we can now halt the decay we are seeing today from UV and IR radiation. As conservators, we have a duty of care to the Minster, its heritage, and the people of York to ensure this remarkable window continues to stand proudly over our city.”

— Dr Marie Groll, Director of York Glaziers Trust

With rising conservation costs driven by inflation and the increasing impacts of climate change, York Minster is appealing to the public support for their help to safeguard the Rose Window and its irreplaceable collection of stained-glass.

Every penny raised through the campaign will support the specialist skills, technology and materials required by York Minster’s Centre for Excellence and The York Glaziers Trust to complete this vital conservation work.

Donations to this landmark campaign can be made on the York Minster website, where you can also keep track of the ongoing works.