York’s highest service sees Minster statue being dedicated
This Sunday (29 June 2014), a service will be held at the East End of York Minster to dedicate the new statue of St Peter that will sit at the top of the Great East Window.
The larger-than-life seated figure has been produced by a team of three stone carvers working at York Minster’s Stoneyard in Deangate, and designed by the Assistant to the Master Mason, Martin Coward. It is made from three individual blocks of stone, especially imported from a quarry in France, and took nearly four months to complete. It was installed on the East Front in autumn last year, but has been covered by scaffolding until this week – the first time the St Peter statue will be exposed to the heavens.
“This is certainly one of the most important statues on the exterior of York Minster – and it is wonderful to reach a stage where it is no longer covered by scaffolding,” comments York Minster’s Dean Vivienne Faull. “This is the headpiece for the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in Northern Europe, and a key part of the York Minster Revealed project, the largest heritage conservation project of its kind in Europe, so this new statue is just as significant as the original, carved in the 15thcentury. It is only fitting that we hold a special service to dedicate this statue.”
The revealing of the statue marks another landmark in the York Minster Revealed project, as this lowering of the scaffolding will continue over the next eighteen months , until the whole of the restored masonry of the East Front is unveiled, including large sections of the medieval window itself, which have been carefully conserved by York Glazier’s Trust.
The dedication service will be held at 4.00pm on Sunday 29 June, although members of the public wishing to follow the service will be able to do so via television screens on College Green. Once the dedication is complete, attendees will then process into York Minster for the remainder of evensong. For more information about York Minster, please visit www.yorkminster.org
ENDS
About York Minster Revealed
The York Minster Revealed project is a five-year project scheduled for completion in spring 2016. It is the largest restoration and conservation project of its kind in Europe. The cost of the whole York Minster Revealed Project is £20 million, of which £10.5m has been generously supported with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The remainder of the fund has been raised by York Minster.
State-of-the-art multi-media galleries, new displays of historic collections and interactive interpretations now create new learning opportunities for all ages. Also improved access to the South Transept, Undercroft, Treasury and Crypt have totally transformed the experience of visiting York Minster.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UKand help build a resilient heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported almost 36,000 projects with more than £6bn across the UK. www.hlf.org.uk. For more information, please contact Katie Owen, HLF press office, on tel: 020 7591 6036/07973 613820.
For further media information or images, please contact:
Jay Commins
Tel: 01904 500698
Mob: 07810 546567
Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk
or
Sharon Atkinson
Communications Manager, York Minster
Tel: 01904 557248
Email: sharona@yorkminster.org
