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BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
York Minster defends 60% visitor entry fee increase
York Minster is one of the leading landmarks of the city - a symbol of both Christianity and the region's to tour this great Anglican cathedral now costs £20 for an adult - an increase of £7.50 since 2022, when a ticket was £ rise has been attributed by the Minster to inflation and the impact of climate change on the historic building's stonework, which has deteriorated. The site costs £33,000 every day to maintain and has no government BBC spoke to visitors and to York Minster's head of works about the challenges. Kay Rogers, 67, visiting York from Australia, said she had been to the Minster before the increase and thought it was "quite a reasonable amount to go in and see what is a beautiful building".However, she thought £20 was "over the top" and "a bit unreasonable"."We're going to the Vatican in a few weeks' time and it is not as much money."She was travelling in Europe with her partner Alin Hickey, 72, who agreed it was "a lot of money".Although the £20 ticket acts as an annual pass, many overseas tourists will not feasibly visit again within the 12-month expiry period. Alan and Kay Pilkington, from Burnley, first visited York Minster when there was no entry fee at Mr Pilkington, 72, said: "We can't afford £20, not at our age. I'm afraid we won't be going in he accepted that the Minster "need to get the money from somewhere". Michael Firth, 75, described the price as "outrageous".As a York resident he is entitled to free admission, but said if he was a visitor, he "wouldn't pay that"."I don't think you should have to pay to go into a church," he added."Alright, ask for donations, but don't pay, bloomin' heck!" Sargao, 46, who was visiting York from Mexico, said the price was "a little bit of a rip off"."Compared with another church in the world, maybe the Duomo in Milan, it's cheaper than here. Bruge in Belgium, it's cheaper than here." A key issue for York Minster, according to its head of works, Paul Peirson, is a lack of regular government it to the Vatican, he added: "The amount of guests that they get is significantly more than we get."He said £2m per year was allocated to preserving and improving the historic building, which "isn't enough" to pay for materials and change added to the challenge, he said, as increased heavy rainfall damaged the stonework, including in hard-to-reach areas. Mr Peirson said projects were planned until 2040 to renovate stonework and "priceless" windows, ensuring they remained safe, as some parts of the building were crumbling."Some of the complexities of these stones and the time it takes to carve one of these things is quite significant as well.""As soon as you see it from the train station, you come to York Minster, so it's important that we keep up that standard of work that our medieval predecessors and people throughout the years have kept that skill and craft."The Minster was investing in new technology to improve the work in the future, he added."If we don't invest in what we're doing now, we will have parts of the building which won't be recognisable in a few years." Free to worshippers A York Minster spokesperson said that entrance "is, and always will be, free for those attending all acts of worship or to pray".They added that carers, children and residents of the city could also visit without paying a fee, with sightseeing entrance also included as part of a York-wide tourism pass."For those who wish to sightsee, we ask for a contribution to ensure we can continue to serve our community and care for and conserve the iconic medieval building of which we are custodians, nearly 1,400 years after the first church was built on this site," they no regular government or Church of England funding "beyond clergy stipends", they said they "rely on the generosity of our visitors".In addition, they said, the Minster faced additional costs in recent years due to National Insurance changes, as well as the addition of VAT to private school fees, which are affecting its music provision. After the closure of The Minster School, its choristers are now educated at St Peter's to a decision not to increase charges during the Covid-19 pandemic, they said "planned, incremental increases, which most businesses make to keep pace with inflation, did not occur throughout this period".They added: "Prices are now in line with other large cathedrals who face similar operating costs." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Isle of Man cathedral dean who led refurbishment project honoured
The dean who spearheaded the refurbishment of the Isle of Man's Anglican cathedral has been honoured in the King's Birthday Honours ListThe Very Rev Nigel Godfrey, who was appointed dean of Cathedral Isle of Man in Peel in 2011 and has led its £3m upgrade, becomes an Godfrey said the honour was a reflection of the community and "it belongs to a group, it doesn't belong to me".Former journalist John Watterson also becomes an MBE for services and dedication to sport on the island, and Cafe Lingo founder Karen Norton is awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to English learning. Born on the island, Dean Godfrey spent two decades at Christ Church in Brixton in London before return to the island to take up the position in his guidance, the cathedral and its grounds have undergone extensive restored cathedral was opened by the Princess Royal in for his service to church and community life, HE said when he was told about the honour he thought saw it as a reflection of the whole community he served."I hope that people that people will see it as an award for them," he said."At the very best I could be described as a jackdaw I suppose in pulling in other people's ideas and skills and gifts and enabling that community to speak for itself.I think it's that way round." Retired journalist Mr Watterson first started in the newspaper industry at the age of 15 and went on to have a career the spanned five decades and included 38 years acting as sports said he was "a bit stunned" and "very honoured" to receive the recognition, which was "not what I expected at all".During his time in the industry, he said he was "really fortunate" that sport had "really taken off on the Isle of Man", allowing him to follow the careers of Manx athletes Sir Mark Cavendish, David Knight, and Yasmin Ingham."I'm very honoured to be involved in the early stages of their developing careers," he said. A former primary school teacher in both the island and Merseyside specialising in supporting children with additional needs, Mrs Norton founded the community facility Cafe Lingo in Douglas with her husband in 2016. The the volunteer-led gathering place was established to help newcomers to the island from around the world overcome any language barriers by offering free English lessons and 2022, Café Lingo has welcomed Ukrainian families fleeing war, offering both practical assistance and emotional support in partnership with the One World Centre and local Bernard Moore received the Lieutenant Governor's Commendation for 40 years of voluntary service to Moore remained as a leader with the first Marown Scouts throughout his decades of commendation said Mr Moore was "instrumental in maintaining a thriving scout section" and "his contribution extends beyond the scouting community and is marked by exceptional commitment, resilience and care". Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
