Collections Unlocked event explores war, violence and Christian belief
Wednesday 22 April 2015
A portable communion set used on the Western Front in the First World War by a young padre who later became Dean of York, is just one of a number of objects that will feature in the next event in York Minster’s “Collections Unlocked” interactive learning sessions.
In ‘Praying for Victory: the legacy of war past and present’, the Minster’s Historic Collections team will use objects from York Minster’s Collection to explore how people across the centuries have tried to reconcile their attitudes to war, violence and belief in a merciful God.
The session will examine propaganda sheets and sermons from the English Civil war (1642-1651), clearly showing both sides – the Roundheads and the Cavaliers – making the claim that God was on their side and would lead them to victory.
More recently, the young padre Eric Milner White (1884-1963), Dean of York from 1941 to 1963, was part of the generation of young men who answered the call to serve their country in the First World War of 1914-1918. His portable communion set and letters that he wrote about his time on the Western Front will be displayed and discussed during the session along with copies of “Mudhook” a newspaper produced in 1917 by and for soldiers on the Front and which records what soldiers really thought about the war and their enemy.
The objects will be used to explore the following questions:
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Can war ever be defended and is there such a thing as a ‘just war’?
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How can we reconcile the tension between war and a Christian conscience?
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What are we hoping for when we pray for victory?
Canon Chris Collingwood, Chancellor of York Minster said:
“War completely changes our perceptions of what is right and wrong, what is moral and immoral. The objects in this session will show how our political leaders have justified war through the ages, the impact on those who fight and die and the effects on their families and loved ones.”
“Collections Unlocked: Praying for Victory the legacy of war past and present”, will take place on Wednesday 22 April at 7.00pm in the Upper Hall of the Old Palace, Dean’s Park, York. Tickets for the event cost £5.00 and can be booked in advance online through
www.yorkminster.org or by telephone on 01904 557208. For more information about Collections Unlocked and York Minster’s Adult Learning go to www.yorkminster.org
For media enquiries please contact:
Sharon Atkinson – Director of Communications – t: 01904 557248 m: 07785 615457
Leanne Woodhurst – Communications Manager – t: 01904 559545 m: 07557 110718
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