York Minster

Managing the Minster

To fulfil all the work it needs to do, York Minster has to have a large workforce.  Visitors must be received, guided, and cared for: so there is a department for the “Floor of the Minster”, in which both paid staff and volunteers are organised to do this to a high standard.  Among them are the Vergers, who not only lead the processions at acts of worship, but are like the stage managers of a theatre.  The Minster is guarded day and night by the Minster Police, who are our security men, responsible for seeing that money is safely conveyed and that order is kept by day and night.

The Stoneyard is the department that repairs and maintains the Minster and its grounds.  There are masons and carvers, joiners and electricians, scaffolders and groundstaff.

A professional staff as varied and numerous as that at the Minster needs to be administered. There is a Finance Office, and  support staff to deal with meetings, daily correspondence and IT: they never stop. Here too we organise the musical life of the Minster including the choirs and the recitals and concerts which are held all round the year.

We have a large cathedral library, open to the public to visit or for study, staffed by professionals and volunteers, and a very important archive.  

And there is the Choir School, at which the Minster’s choristers are educated on site, to be ready for the daily services.  A whole world of education under our wing!

There is a shop as well, and a major collection of treasures to be cared for and exhibited.

The whole operation is directed by the Chapter.