York Minster

Merchant Adventurers support York Minster Revealed

Published Wednesday 19th March 2008 by Alix Peacock

The Company of Merchant Adventurers of The City of York has  made a very generous donation of £68,745.84 to the York Minster Fund Development Office, in aid of the York Minster Revealed project.  The Company held a fundraising dinner in November 2007 to raise funds for York Minster Revealed.  This substantial donation has today been presented to The Very Revd Keith Jones, Dean of York at York Minster.

Nicholas McMahon Turner, a Past Governor of The Company of Merchant Adventurers, who was responsible for organising the fundraising event said: “The Company of Merchant Adventurers is delighted to have been able to contribute towards the York Minster Revealed project and I am most grateful to the many people both within and outside the Company who have helped us to raise this large sum of money.  For many years The Company and The Minster have enjoyed a close relationship which continues today”

Dr Richard Shephard, Director of Development at York Minster said: “This is a very significant sum, and all of us at the Minster are most grateful to the Merchant Adventurers and all those who helped to organise this magnificent piece of fundraising. It is splendid to see a continuing relationship between these two ancient York organisations.“

The Company of Merchant Adventurers is a group of men and women in a variety of different careers and backgrounds who are united by an entrepreneurial spirit.  The York Company celebrated its 650th anniversary in 2007.  The Company, originally set up as a religious fraternity, now plays an important role in the civic and business life of York, administers charities and runs the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall as a registered museum.

The York Minster Revealed project will open up the beauty of the Minster and increase craft and skills training in stone masonry and stained glass conservation.  The project has been awarded an earmarked grant of £10 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund.   The funds raised by the York Company of the Merchant Adventurers will go towards the match funding for this project.