York Minster

Who’s Who At York Minster

The governing body of York Minster is the Chapter, which is made up of the following people:

The Dean                                                

The Very Rev'd Keith Jones

Residentiary Clergy Canons            

Canon Glyn Webster (Chancellor)
Canon Jonathan Draper (Theologian)
Canon Jeremy Fletcher (Precentor)    

Lay Canons                         

Canon Maureen Loffill
Canon  Dr Ann Lees
Canon Dr Andrew Green

The Dean and the Residentiary Canons are required to live close to the Minster, and take their turn being 'in residence', where they are present at Morning and Evening Prayer for the week.  The Canon in Residence is on hand to meet pastoral needs, and may be required to chair committees or act otherwise if the Dean is absent.

The Archbishop of York, the Right Reverend Dr John Sentamu is the bishop of the Diocese of York, which is his special care - an area of land bounded roughly by the North Sea, the River Tees, the A1, the River Humber. 

His throne (Cathedra) is in the Quire of the Minster on the south side.  He is the Preacher at Christmas and Easter and uses the Minster for diocesan services but he does not have any responsibility for running the Minster nor is he usually present at our daily services. 

People who assist the Dean and Chapter

Most of the staff responsible for the day-to-day running of the Minster work in Church House, Ogleforth, York.  The Dean and the three Residentiary Canons have their offices here.

The Chapter Steward, John Morris, is the senior administrator of the Minster, responsible for the smooth-running of the practical and commercial aspects of the Minster's life.

The Chapter Clerk, Andrew Oates, acts as clerk to the Chapter, ensuring that all meetings are administered and the Chapter's statutory functions are carried out.

The Director of Music, Robert Sharpe, trains the choir and is responsible for the performance of music, choral and instrumental for worship and Minster choir concerts. 

The Organist, John Scott Whiteley is responsible for most of the organ playing.  He also arranges the Organ Recitals that take place in the Spring and Summer. 

The Assistant to the Director of Music, David Pipe, assists Robert Sharpe in rehearsing and directing the Choir and assists John Scott Whiteley in playing the organ.

The Chief Accountant, Sue Pace, helps the Dean and Chapter with all financial matters, collecting and disbursing money and keeping the accounts.

The Director of Development, Richard Shephard, is responsible for fundraising at the Minster, and overseeing initiatives to raise money for specific projects.

The Human Resources Manager, Catherine Bourke, is responsible for developing policies and plans that relate to the recruitment and development of staff.

The Collections Manager, Vicky Harrison, is in charge of the Minster’s Special Collections. She plans and organises exhibitions in the Minster and acts as Curator of the Minster Treasury.

Staff on the Minster Floor

The Choir There are 20 boy and 20 girl choristers and 8 probationers (who all attend the Minster school) together with 12 men some of whom are Songmen, whilst others are Choral Scholars.  The boys and girls take it in turns to sing with the men and occasionally boys, girls and men sing together.  Philip Titcombe is the Choir Librarian and is in charge of every aspect of the music used by the Choir.

The Minster Shop Manager, Graeme Ward, is responsible for the running of the shop attached to the Minster. 

The Vergers (Head Verger – Alex Carberry) Our five vergers assist the clergy and see that everything is ready for the services.  They lead the choir and the clergy to their places for the services, using a rod with a silver top called a verge. 

The Minster Police (Head Policeman – Steve Wilkinson) Our eight Minster Police guard the Cathedral night and day, and are responsible for its safety and security.

Visitor Reception Staff (Visitor Reception Manager – Isabel Bamford) who welcome all visitors at the door and ensure that as visitors they respect the Minster as a place of worship, work on the charging desks as well as organising groups and guided tours.  (See Visitors’ Department)

The Sisters of the Holy Paraclete at Whitby (Sister Janette and Sister Linda) assist in the running of the Minster in many different ways including making contact with visitors, especially any in need of help or a friendly word.  They are responsible for the mid-day prayers which they lead each weekday in the Minster.

The Cleaners  A firm of outside contractors help the Vergers to clean the Minster.

The Minster School

The Headmaster, Alex Donaldson, supervises the running of the Minster School, a co-educational preparatory school with its own pre-prep department. There are approximately 190 children on the school roll, aged between 3 and 13 years.

The Operations and Visitor Services Department

The Operations and Visitor Services Manager, Rachael Baldwin, is responsible for the Operations and Visitors’ Department.  This involves the smooth running of all operational matters within the Minster which relate to visitors.  She is responsible for the staff and volunteers who service these areas.  She is aided by the Visitor Reception Manager (Isabel Bamford), the Volunteer Manager  (Susan Mason) and the Operations Administrator.

The Centre for School Visits assists schools visiting the Minster, providing lessons in the Centre and guided tours of the Minster.  The Centre Co-ordinator is Jo Linfoot, and the 3 teachers are Timo Little, Jeremy Muldowney and Liz Paterson.

The Stoneyard

The Superintendent of Works, Steve Mills, is in charge of all the people who care for the fabric of the Minster.  These include masons, joiners, scaffolders, electricians, bricklayers, gardeners and labourers. 

Library, Archives and Conservation

The Minster Library is run by paid staff and volunteers who care for its thousands of valuable books. 

The Librarian is John Powell.

The Archivist, Peter Young, looks after the ancient and modern records of the Dean and Chapter, some of which go back to medieval times.

The Conservator, Mary Smith undertakes conservation work for the Library and the Archives.

Volunteers

The Volunteer Manager, Susan Mason, supports all aspects of volunteering that take place in the Minster.  The following volunteers give their time and skill to help the Minster carry out its worship, ministry, work of education and care of its possessions.

Honorary Chaplains and Celebrants.  During the summer months, clergy from the diocese come in on a rota basis from Monday to Saturday.They are available to help visitors when necessary and to lead the hourly prayers, which are said at 11.00am, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

Eucharist Assistants, Intercessors and Readers are worshippers who undertake occasional liturgical duties.

Servers assist in preparation of the altar, assist the priest during the service and help to clear away.  They also carry the cross, candles and banners in processions. 

Service and Concert Stewards assist with the services and help at other events and concerts, showing people to their seats and taking up the collection.

Sunday School Helpers assist children attending Sunday School to follow a programme which looks at the same themes as the 10am Eucharist and generally includes some singing, some craft activity and some teaching and prayer.

Voluntary Guides, Chapter House Stewards and Information Desk Stewards give up their time to help visitors by acting as Guides in the Minster or as Stewards on the Information Desk and in the Chapter House.

Centre for School Visits Guides assist the staff in the CSV by taking school groups around the Minster.

The Broderers are responsible for the wonderful embroidery found in the Minster.  They also make new hangings  and kneelers for the chapels.

The Vestment Keepers are responsible for the care and storage of the Minster’s vestments and also undertake repairs to them and altar linen as this becomes necessary.

Flower Arrangers are groups of volunteers from local flower clubs and other organisations, responsible for the floral decoration in the Minster.  They are co-ordinated by the head of the Minster flower arrangers.

Bellringers.  There is a team of change ringers who ring the bells for Sunday services and sometimes for special services on other days.  They practise on Tuesday evenings.

Library, Archive and Conservation Volunteers undertake a wide variety of tasks, one of which is to invigilate in the Reading Room.

The Minster Community Committee is the elected group who represent the views of the Minster Community to the Dean and Chapter and the wider community.

Events Team for the Campaign is a working party set up by the Development Office to support the Minster Development Campaign and to plan,  co-ordinate and publicise a great variety of events that will raise both funds and awareness of the campaign. 

Associated Organisations

The York Minster Fund raises money from businesses and other well wishers for the maintenance and restoration of the fabric.

The Minster High Steward, – an honorary title – is a leading person in Yorkshire who helps the Minster in its public profile and in the raising of funds. Lord Halifax is the present High Steward.

Friends of York Minster The Friends of York Minster are a support body of over 2000 well-wishers of the Minster who pray for its work and contribute much money every year to beautify and enrich its structures and it worship.

York Glaziers Trust  takes care of much of the stained glass in York Minster