Wednesday 2 November, 9.30am – 4.00pm

Wednesday 2 November is All Souls’ Day in the Christian calendar and this year York Minster will mark the date with a special day to remember those who have died.

We will be closed for sightseeing but open with free entry to welcome people into the cathedral who have been recently bereaved or people who simply want to remember loved ones who died many years ago.

A space will be created inside the Minster for people to sit quietly, to reflect, to pray and to light a candle for their dead. 

Entry is free and no pre-booking is required.

Requiem Eucharist for All Souls’ Day – 5.30pm

The annual Requiem Eucharist for All Souls’ Day, at which we remember loved ones who have died, will take place at 5.30pm with Victoria’s Missa pro defunctis of 1605 performed by the Vicars Choral and Choral Scholars of the Choir of York Minster.

All are welcome to attend.

The day forms part of a Season of Remembering at the Minster which includes the Feast of All Saints Day on Monday 1 November, an installation in the Chapter House of the Yorkshire Speak Their Name memorial quilt (2 – 10 November), the observation of the national two minutes’ silence on Friday 11 November at 11.00am, and the Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration for Remembrance Sunday on 13 November.

York Minster’s Season of Remembering

This year’s Season of Remembering at York Minster will help us to engage with the extraordinary power of love, the grief and pain of bereavement and the opportunity to honour and to pay our respects to those who have died in past conflicts.

The Revd Canon Michael Smith, Acting Dean of York, said:  “All of us carry in our hearts the memory of relatives, friends, colleagues and acquaintances who have died leaving us bereft. Many are still grieving for those who died during the pandemic when visiting the sick was difficult or impossible and attendance at funerals were limited. This year we will all also be remembering Queen Elizabeth II and all that she meant to us, our nation and the Commonwealth.

“We are providing a safe place for people to grieve, to remember, to honour and to pray for all their loved ones who have died, whether they died years ago or in recent months. We hope that people will attend services or simply just come to the Minster to sit, reflect, pray or to light a candle in memory of their loved ones.”

More information about York Minster’s season of Remembering can be found here.