York Minster

Minster Community Committee

These are the current members of the York Minster Community Committee, elected members serving three years from the beginning of 2008:

The Rev. Canon Glyn Webster

A Lancastrian who has found himself serving in York for the last 30 years:

"During that time, it's been great to work in a variety of settings, suburban and town parishes, a large hospital and now here at York Minster.

"I have the responsibility of care of the worshipping community and of employees and volunteers.

"For somebody who never thought he would work in a cathedral, it is actually a great and thrilling place to serve God.

"My interests? - keeping up with my friends." (photograph: Jonathan Draper)

Maggie Draper

Maggie is a regular worshipper at the Minster, where she runs the Sunday School and has helped to set up the Minster Youth Group.

She is married and has three teenage children. She has a Masters degree in Social Work and is currently studying for a Post-graduate Diploma in Management.

She works as the Manager of the Palliative Care services in York, with a team of about 20 staff who care for terminally ill people at home and in hospital.

She has acted as the Minster Community Committee Secretary and helped to organise two Community Days. (photograph: Meg Shorland-Ball)

Margaret Clegg

Margaret is a legal executive and former civil servant. She has recently taken early retirement and is now happily studying for a B.A. (Theology) at York St John University.

Margaret, who, like Glyn Webster, hails from Lancashire, is the Committee's Treasurer, and assists at the Minster as a server, steward, reader on the Holy Communion service rota and as a Social Committee member. Her interests include pastoral care, art, choral music and opera and protection of the environment. She was re-elected to the Community Committee in January 2008. (photograph: Jeremy Howat)

Richard Corden

Richard has been a regular worshipper at the Minster since 1999, when he moved to York. He is a schoolmaster by profession and is currently teaching at a prep. school north-east of the city. He is also clerk to his village Parish Council. His hobbies include an interest in transport and listening to music.

He is a regular steward at Minster sevices and concerts and is looking forward to serving on the Community Committee. He was elected to the Committee in January 2008. (photograph: Chris Rundle)

Janet Harrison

Janet is a retired teacher. She has been a regular worshipper at the Minster for 12 years and has been a Friend for 18 years. She is a steward, a member of the Minster servers and a reader of the Epistle. She also assists in arranging and catering at community events.

Interests include cooking, reading, music and gardening at a newly acquired allotment. She is on the project committee of the York centre of the National Trust. She was elected to the committee in January 2008. (photograph: Jeremy Howat)

Jeremy Howat

Jeremy is a retired vicar now living in York. He and his wife have worshipped regularly here since 1999. He is also a Minster voluntary chaplain. He has been a member of the Friends of York Minster since 1950, when he joined at the age of 14.

Jeremy is interested in designing and creating websites and has one of his own on British settlers in Argentina. He has a strong interest in South America and has worked there for 11 years.

He is the author of two books on Postal History relating to the carriage of mails to and from South America and the Falkland Islands.

Reelected to the Committee in January 2008. (photograph: Meg Shorland-Ball)

Howard Langham

Howard is a local businessman and was educated at St John's Church School, York. He is a member of the Cathedral Council and Deanery Synod representative. He is a life member of the Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary and first served at York Minster in 1957. He has a special interest in the history of the Catholic wing of the Church of England and its place within the church today.

He competitively raced motorcycles for 30 years at most European countries and the Isle of Man and still maintains a strong interest in the sport. (photograph: Meg Shorland-Ball)

Trevor Plimmer

Trevor is a retired Insurance Executive and has worshipped regularly at the Minster for over ten years.  He is also a voluntary Steward at services and special events and was elected to the Cathedral Council in December 2007.

He has had an interest in railways for many years and enjoys travelling by rail, particularly throughout the Northern Counties.  Amongst his other interests are reading and gardening. (photograph: Meg Shorland-Ball)

Keith Pogson

Keith is a retired banker and formerly chairman of the York Diocesan Pastoral Committee. He was a member of the Transitional Council and currently is a Community elected member of the Cathedral Council.

For 30 years Keith has been a member of Rotary and has been President of Headingly, Driffield and York Ainsty Rotary Clubs. In addition to which he has been Vice-Chairman of the Yorkshire Association of Boys Clubs. His principal hobby is a lifetime interest in Egyptian philately. (photograph: Meg Shorland-Ball)

Chris Rundle

Chris is a civil servant with the Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber and has regularly worshipped at the Minster since 1998. In 2002 he joined the rota of those who read at the services of Holy Communion. He was elected to the Cathedral Council in December 2007.

Chris enjoys playing cricket and watching rugby. (photograph: Meg Shorland-Ball)

Bryan Seymour

Bryan is a retired teacher and has worshipped at the Minster for almost 50 years and been a Friend for 40. He is co-ordinator of the Minster servers, a guide, steward, intercessor and helps with the administration of Holy Communion.

He is a trustee, representing the Dean and Chapter, of the Oglethorpe and Dawson Educational Foundation at Tadcaster Grammar School. He is also a trustee looking after Poppleton Tithe Barn.

He has compiled a book York's Other Churches and Chapels. He also enjoys cooking, music, especially of the 18th century, and opera. He was reelected to the Committee in January 2008. (photograph: Meg Shorland-Ball)

Sue Thompson

Sue is semi-retired and works as a lecturer in occupational therapy at York St John University. She has been worshipping at The Minster for over 15 years. At present she is a server and Sunday School helper. She has been part of the social committee responsible for the calendar of social events for a number of years.

She is a member of the Minster walking group and in her spare time is Chair of York Nightstop Charities which works to prevent young people becoming homeless. Sue was elected to the Community Committee in January 2008. (photograph: Chris Rundle)

Martyn Weaver

Martyn is a manager within the rail industry and has regularly worshipped at the Minster since 1995. He helps with the Youth Group, Sunday School and leads intercessions. Martyn is married and has two young children. He enjoys photography and travel, particularly enjoying travelling by rail and sea. He was elected to the Minster Community Committee in January 2008.

The Very Rev. Keith Jones, ex-oficio member

"I believe the Community Committee has an important part in the life of the Minster.

"You have a responsibility for helping the Chapter to know more clearly what the experience of belonging to the Community is like, and that will have an impact on the guidance Chapter gives to other parts of the Minster's operation. Your core concerns should be worship, pastoral care, and service to the wider community."

From the reflection offered by Dean Jones to the meeting of the Committee February 2 2005. (photograph: Jeremy Howat)

The Rev. Canon Dr Jonathan Draper

The Rev. Dr Jonathan Draper, Canon Theologian, member of the Cathedral Chapter. (photograph: Chris Rundle)