York Minster

Who are the Friends?

The Friends of York Minster, founded in 1928, currently has over 2,500 members from far and near. The purpose of the Friends is to support York Minster and contribute financially and in other appropriate ways to its preservation, beautification and ministry by:

• Assisting and supporting the Dean and Chapter in maintaining and improving the services, music, fabric, fittings, furniture, ornaments, monuments and facilities of the Minster.
• Encouraging the interest and participation of young people through education and activities.
• Stimulating and maintaining public interest in the Minster.

(photograph: Michael Wiles)

Founded in faith, built in stone

York Minster has been a site of Christian worship and devotion for over 1400 years. This principal cathedral of the Northern Province draws pilgrims from all over the world. Whether as visitors they are drawn here to worship, to gaze in awe, or to study, there can be few who leave this holy and historic place without some sense of God's presence.

The Minster receives no regular help from the State, but the maintenance and conservation costs are huge. Your subscription as a Friend will contribute to specific projects which will enhance the beauty of this wonderful building and support its purpose as a place of worship and ministry for all.

If you would like to help York Minster preserve its past and inspire future generations, the Dean and Chapter invite you to become a Friend. You can join for just one year or be bold and become "A Friend for Life"! (see our Membership Section).

Many Friends wear a badge (pictured to the right) to show they support our work.

The Friends are 80 this year!

This year will be a milestone in the life of the Friends. In May 1928 the society of "The Friends of York Minster" was inaugurated under the patronage of the Duke of York (later King George VI). May 2008 will see the start of our 80th anniversary year, under the patronage of Dame Judi Dench.

The key purpose in 1928, as now, was to raise funds to secure and enhance the Minster fabric and services, through a fellowship of Friends. To mark this special year, the Friends will have two special projects. There will be fundraising within our membership to sponsor the restoration of the Bishop Skirlaw panel in the Great East Window. Bishop Skirlaw was an early 15th century friend of York Minster as he donated the finance for the window completed in 1408, so his panel is an appropriate choice for us, six hundred years later.

Another project will be the commissioning of new and elegant rails to surround the eagle lectern in the Quire. Why not join the Friends of York Minster in our 80th year? See FOYM events for list of Activities up to December 2008.