York Minster

Services

Daily worship lies at the heart of York Minster. Prayer is offered through the day, and most days include at least one service sung by the Minster Choir.

Matins is a simple act of prayer at the beginning of the day. On most Sundays it is sung by the choir at 11.30am.  Since earliest times Christians have offered worship to begin the day.

Evensong is generally sung, and uses the pattern of Evensong in the Book of Common Prayer which has been largely unchanged since 1549.

Solemn Evensong is usually sung on Saints' Day, where the choir procession is preceded by incense, cross and lights.  Before and after the Magnificat, an appropriate antiphon is sung, and during the Magnificat the altar is censed, as a sign of the presence of God in word and sacrament.

Today's services of Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church of England can be found here, or by clicking on 'Daily Prayer' in the External Links section.

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or The Lord's Supper, is offered once or twice every day, using both contemporary and traditional forms. Taking bread and wine, using the example of Jesus Christ on the night before he died, Christians remember Christ's death on the cross and determine to make a new community, demonstrating the love of Christ which was his 'new commandment' to his followers.

The regular pattern of daily worship at York Minster can be found by clicking Service Times on the left.