York Minster

Welcoming everyone

We want everyone to be able to experience York Minster to the full.

We are committed to doing everything we can to make the Minster as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. This includes both physical access to the building itself, and how we present information, so that we can support visitors with sensory impairments and visitors who may have learning difficulties.

These pages set out the things we are doing, and some of the ways in which we can help. We welcome feedback from visitors.

We hope you find these pages useful and that they helps you to access and enjoy the York Minster experience.

Awareness

We know that people have different needs and like to access the Minster in different ways.

We have carried out access audits led by people with disabilities, to help develop this policy. This work has included a physical audit of the Minster, and an audit of our website and information.

We are also committed to training our staff at all levels to raise awareness of key issues and how they can help people to access the Minster.

Accessibility

By access, we mean all the ways in which the Minster is experienced and understood – both the visit itself, by whatever means, and the information we provide.

Access to Worship

The Dean and Chapter want everyone to be able to join in the events and acts of worship in the Minster.  In an ancient building there are some places which are difficult to access, but which are so historic and well-loved that we do not wish to put them out of use.  We therefore undertake:

• To provide wherever possible physical access for all to places in the Minster where worship and events take place
• To look for opportunities to extend that access to places where at present the problems of access are insurmountable
• To provide each day a service of Holy Communion in an accessible place

The Zouche Chapel which is a much loved and secluded place for prayer, presents problems for access which we have not been able to solve, short of measures that would destory its special charcter.  We shall do all we can to help people who wish to attend any acts of worship in the Zouche Chapel, and invite anyone who foresees difficulty in managing to enter to contact a member of the Minster staff, or ring 557200 (the Minster's Reception) so that we may assist.