York Minster

The Development Campaign

The Development Campaign was set up initially to find support for three main areas: the fabric of the east front; the Minster Choir; the educational work of the Minster.

The East Front

The stonework of the east front is in poor condition. A combination of weathering, chemical pollutions and old age has led to severe deterioration, so that some 2,500 individual stones have to be replaced.

This work on the stone necessitates the removal of the great east Window, a matchless piece of medieval art, created by John Thornton in the early years of the 15th century. The removal of the glass enables scholars and craftsmen and women to look closely at the images and to attempt to make good the ravages of time.

It seems likely that the total cost of the present project will be in the region of £23 million.

The Minster Choir

For centuries choral worship has been at the centre of the life of York Minster. The 40 choristers, boys and girls, are educated at the Minster School, and the Dean and Chapter provide substantial scholarships. There are also choral scholarships available for students at the University of York. The English choral tradition is one of the most significant contributions which this country has made to European culture, but it comes at a cost.

The present annual cost of providing choral music in the Minster is £415,000

Education

Apart from the Minster School, York Minster has two other educational centres: the Centre for School Visits, and the Library and Archives.

As with the music, the Dean and Chapter are committed to ensuring the future of these educational centres, as a cathedral without music or education becomes a mere empty shell.

A big step forward for the Development Campaign

Heritage Lottery Fund earmarked grant of £10 million

The Heritage Lottery Fund announced on 26th July 2007 that they have awarded an earmarked grant of £10 million to York Minster to aid the Dean and Chapter with the restoration of the East Front.  This is a huge step forward for the Development Campaign and wonderful news for York Minster.

The grant will mean that much of the fragile stonework of the East Front and the main glass panels of the magnificent Great East Window will be able to be conserved.

The skills which will help to restore and conserve the East Front will be nurtured and encouraged with a training programme in stone masonry and stained glass conservation.

(Picture: Kippa Matthews/Heritage Lottery Fund)