York Minster reveals its 8 Wonders for York 800

Whilst the city celebrates 800 years since it received its Royal Charter, York Minster is marking the anniversary with the launch of its 8 Wonders campaign to highlight many of the different and distinctive aspects of the Minster’s building, music and calendar.

“Choosing just 8 Wonders for York Minster has been the biggest challenge, as there are so many wonderful things about the Minster that we’d like to highlight, from the majesty of the building itself to some of the amazing things that happen here,” comments The Reverend Glyn Webster, Canon Chancellor of York Minster. “We are going to focus on a different ‘wonder’ each month between April and December, telling the story around each of the wonders through events, exhibitions, talks and activities.”

The 8 Wonders campaign kicks off with one of York Minster’s biggest and most important weeks of the year, Holy Week, which runs from Palm Sunday (1 April) through to Easter Sunday (8 April). This year’s Palm Sunday will be marked with a procession, led by a donkey and with the Dean and clergy carrying palm fronds from York’s St Helen’s Square to the Minster to represent Jesus’s journey into Jerusalem.  Everyone is encouraged to join both the procession and the service which follows.

“The Palm Sunday procession is a very visible start to our Holy Week celebrations, which will include the visit by the Queen on Maundy Thursday to distribute Maundy Money to 172 people from around the Diocese, and all of our Easter services, which are amongst the most popular in the year,” adds Canon Webster.

York Minster can also claim a world exclusive during Holy Week – it is the only cathedral in the world to host Sung Evensong every day in the week running up to Easter.

Other aspects of the 8 Wonders will include a month looking at music within the Minster, from the work of the choristers to performances on York Minster’s four organs during May, the eight ‘must see’ aspects of any visit to York Minster, an exploration of the York Minster Revealed project, including a spectacular display of some of the stained glass from the Great East Window, which is currently being restored, and culminating in the celebration of Advent and Christmas in December.

“We are hoping to welcome in more visitors than ever before in 2012, both to look around York Minster and to take part in our services. No matter what your background, nationality or religion, we are confident that everyone will be fascinated and inspired by what they find within these walls – even if they have never stepped foot in a church before,” adds Canon Moger.

Admission prices to York Minster are £9.00 for adults, £8.00 for senior citizens (60+) and students. Your admission ticket to York Minster gives you a full year of access to the magnificent building. A family ticket costs just £9.00 for one adult and up to four children, and £18.00 for two adults and up to four children. The Minster is open for visiting daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm (last entry), open for services and prayer from 7.00am to 6.30pm.

For more information, please visit http://wonders.yorkminster.org

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The 8 Wonders of York Minster are:

1. Easter, especially Holy Week
2. Treasures – the eight must-see features of the Minster, from the Chapter House to the Astronomical Clock
3. Curiosities – eight items, one for each of the eight centuries of the Minster’s existence, which feature the number eight in its story of design
4. Music at the Minster
5. The Central Tower
6. York Minster Revealed, the major project currently underway to conserve and restore some of the most important aspects of York Minster’s building and fabric.
7. The Great East Window, one of the most significant pieces of stained glass in the world
8. Christmas in the Minster, from Advent to Epiphany

Pictures show:

- Eight Kings on the South side of York Minster's Kings Screen, representing the eight kings who sat on the throne whilst the current York Minster was being built.  (The North side of the King Screen features the seven Norman kings from the construction of the original Norman Minster).

- Eight panels in the window above the West door.

- The octagonal Chapter House.

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