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This is an archived website containing material relating to Dr Rowan Williams’ time as Archbishop of Canterbury, which ended on 31st December 2012

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The Friends of York Minster

The work of the Minster Broderers
The Friends of York Minster was founded in 1927 (under Royal Patronage) for the general benefit of York Minster, its fabric and its services.  On 29th May 1929 Dean Ford reported that Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of York, were to become the first members of the Friends and now there are over 2,700 members both in the UK and worldwide.

The present Constitution of the Friends seeks:-

To create and maintain public interest in York Minster

To assist and support the Dean and Chapter in maintaining and improving the fabric, fittings, furniture, ornaments, monuments, services and music of the Minster and in maintaining and improving the precincts (excluding dwelling houses) and in the publication of literature relating to the Minster

To encourage the interest and participation of young people and to form a channel through which they can give various forms of service to the Minster.

To encourage literature furthering the aims of the Society, including an annual report. 

 

The Friends’ support of the Dean and Chapter is varied and includes grants for:

-         Music in the Minster –

including a new chamber organ,

new musical compositions, and

chorister endowments.

-         The Minster Library 

 including the acquisition of new books,

 the restoration of the Torre manuscripts and other books.

 

Also the Friends help to fund things such as:

-         New cassocks for the choir

-         Lectern rails in the Quire

-         Restoration of the Bishop Skirlaw Panel in the East Window

-         Provision of a set of liturgical silver

-         The work of the Minster Broderers

 

The Council of the Friends has also agreed support for:-

 -         Restoration of verges

-         Restoration of lead alloy chalices and patens

-         Digitization, translation and publication of the Fabric Rolls

-         Dating of the Screen Doors

-         New surplices for the choir

 

Members of the Council look forward to receiving future requests from the Dean and Chapter for support of their work. It’s important to help and encourage the support the Friends give to York Minster.

For further information please visit www.yorkminster.org/involved/foym .

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has been President of The Friends of York Minster since 2006.