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Sponsor a Stone
Published: on 7th December 2005 by Eleanor Course in Development Campaign News
How you can help restore the East Front
HRH the Duke of York has launched a new scheme to raise money for the restoration of the East Front of York Minster. The 'Sponsor a Stone' scheme is a way for individuals, schools, clubs and businesses to pay for the replacement of one of the stones in the East Front.
At least 2,500 stones need to be replaced, and these stones can be sponsored for £10 a month for 5 years, or £5 a month for 10 years. The Duke of York, who is Patron of the York Minster Development Campaign, is sponsoring the first stone in this scheme, and is he keen that the people of York and Yorkshire are able to be involved in the project.
HRH The Duke of York said today, "The Minster is faced with a huge ten-year fundraising task. Clearly major donors will be making a contribution, but it is equally important that the people of York and Yorkshire feel that they can have a part in the preservation of their Minster. 2,500 stones in the East Front have to be replaced, so this scheme asks individuals, schools or clubs to sponsor a stone, at a cost of £5 per month for the duration of the East Front Campaign.
"I am delighted to donate the first stone in the project, and will closely follow the scheme as it progresses. It would be wonderful if every one of the 2,500 stones could find a sponsor, so it is my hope that businesses and clubs, as well as individuals will sign up to the scheme and spread the word through the City and County and beyond."
The restoration of the East Front will be the major project at the Minster for the next 10 years. The East Front features the magnificent Great East Window, which is the biggest single expanse of medieval stained glass in the world. Some of the East Front stonework has not been repaired since it was built in the early fifteenth century, and needs extensive work. Some high level masonry has become unsafe and needs securing, and widespread erosion of the stonework means that many of the stones will have to be replaced. In March, the Development Campaign was launched to raise money to carry out this restoration.
Dr Richard Shephard, Director of Development at York Minster said, "It could be easy to lose heart when faced with a restoration bill of tens of millions. The great thing about this scheme is that it breaks the total sum down into manageable chunks. Many people would be able to support us to the tune of £5 per month- a sum which will yield a total of £600 by the end of the Campaign. Not only does this sponsorship project provide much needed capital, but it gives all of the sponsors a degree of ownership. This is clearly a splendid idea, as York Minster belongs to the whole community.
"The Duke of York's stone is a symbol, and it will be some considerable time before it finds its way on to the East Front. We are still involved in research and planning, and we are under careful scrutiny by the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England. But it is extremely important that we raise funds now, so that when we have the green light to proceed with the restoration, we will have enough capital to see the whole project through."
To sponsor a stone, please contact the Development Office on 01904 557245, email campaign@yorkminster.org, or pick up a form in the Minster.