York Minster is a living church with a thriving community made up of people of all ages. For many, York Minster is their regular place of worship, as part of one or more of our Sunday and weekday congregations.

There are lots of ways to get involved with the Minster Community.

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York Minster Worshipping Community Roll

To comply with the governance regime introduced by the 2021 Cathedrals Measure, we closed our old Community Roll in January 2023 and replaced it with a new Worshipping Community Roll.  Everyone who is (1) baptised and aged 16 or over, and (2) has attended Minster services regularly for 6 months is eligible to join the new Roll (and ‘attend’ in this context can include joining the Minster’s services via our live-stream facility).

Names are not automatically transferred onto the new Worshipping Community Roll from our former Roll – a new application form must be completed.  Printed application forms are available from the Vestry and can also be downloaded via the link below.

The Worshipping Community Roll is primarily an electoral register – we hold elections of lay people to represent us on the York Deanery Synod every three years – the next Deanery Synod election will be held in 2026.

The governance reforms introduced by the 2021 Cathedrals Measure also require Chapter to review the role and membership of the representative groups through which we consult members of our Community and involve them in our engagement work and wider ministry.  We have created a new group charged with building up the worshipping community at York called the Community Matters Forum. Elections to the Forum will be held every three years, starting in September 2024. The Forum’s Terms of Reference are available HERE.

For more information about our Worshipping Community Roll please contact Andy Oates, Chapter Clerk, at 8-9 Minster Yard, York, YO1 7HH (email [email protected] or direct line 01904 557210).

Community Matters Forum – 2024 Election

Further to the election count conducted on Friday 27 September, these six people (listed alphabetically by surname) have been elected by the members of the Minster’s Worshipping Community Roll to serve on the Minster’s new Community Matters Forum:

• Roger Boulton
• Jonathan Brown
• Conal Gregory
• Rebecca Higgins
• Howard Langham
• Sammi Tooze

These six elected members will serve on the Community Matters Forum for its first three-year term, which begins on 1 October 2024 and ends on 30 September 2027.

We are very grateful to everyone who took part in this election, in particular to the twelve people who kindly agreed to stand as Candidates, and to everyone who participated in the various stages of the nominations and voting processes.

The Forum’s primary purpose will be to build up the community of York Minster both numerically and as disciples of Jesus Christ, to be more fully the Body of Christ in serving all who worship and visit the Minster, supporting the residentiary clergy in delivering our ministry and mission to the city, diocese and Northern Province.  The Forum’s Terms of Reference are available HERE.

As we begin this new and exciting chapter in the life of the community, we commit ourselves to the ambitious aims of the Forum’s Terms of Reference:

1.  To represent the views of Minster worshippers on matters concerning the Minster and the life of its community to Chapter via the Residentiary Chapter Canon nominated for that purpose by Chapter, who will act as a Co-Chair of the Forum, and as a member of Chapter’s Senior Executive Team and as an Executive Chapter Trustee.

2.  To support the Minster’s residentiary clergy in the mission and ministry of York Minster.

3.  To represent the values, strategic direction and policy decisions of Chapter to Minster worshippers.

4.  To engage Minster worshippers in such activities as its Co-Chairs, the Minster’s residentiary clergy or Chapter from time to time determine, including discipleship courses, social events, quiet days and away days, and engagement with the wider local community, with a particular focus on building up a Minster worshipping community.

5.  To seek to engage with other cathedral communities in the Northern Province, to create a network, build relationships and share positive experiences and initiatives.

6.  To demonstrate a firm commitment to Chapter’s requirements on Safeguarding, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Health & Safety to assist Chapter in ensuring a secure and inclusive environment is provided for all through its adherence to all applicable legal frameworks and Chapter-approved policies and ways of working.

7.  To have responsibility for the delivery of the generous giving programme for the Minster’s regular worshippers in collaboration with Chapter’s Finance Department.

8.  To have responsibility for arranging monthly community conversations held as a forum for the sharing and disseminating of information and the opportunity to hear from Minster clergy, Minster staff, Chapter members and occasional outside speakers invited by the Co-Chairs.

9.  To have oversight of all sub-committees and working groups created under these Terms of Reference including the Social Action Group, Pastoral Care Group, Minster Walkers’ Group and Social Committee.

Meeting and Learning

One of the easiest ways to get to know people is to chat with us after any of our services. We would be delighted to talk to you about what is going on in the Minster and what might interest you.

The Minster Community Walking Group is an active group of all ages who walk every first Saturday of the month and welcomes new members. For more information and details of the next walk, visit the York Minster Walkers’ website

Children, young people and families

We are delighted to welcome children to worship with us throughout the week. We want to provide ways for children and families to worship together at York Minster.

All children are welcome at our Sunday School groups, Children’s Corner, or Minster Mice service.

The groups gather near the back of the church, part way into the service, and walk together to the Sunday school sessions which are held in the Consistory Court and the Zouche Chapel. If you would prefer to stay in the service with your children you are very welcome to do so.

Children and young people can also share in the work and worship of the Minster through serving, reading and singing in regular worship. If you are interested in exploring Baptism, Communion before Confirmation or Confirmation for your child, you can find further details here.

You can also find full details of York Minster’s Safeguarding policy here.

Minster Community groups

There are a number of Minster Community groups that make valuable and much-appreciated contributions to various areas of the cathedral’s life.

The Social Action Group was set up to develop and organise events and activities that promote, encourage and challenge the whole of the Minster’s Community and congregations to engage in effective social action in whatever way they can.

We are currently actively supporting HOPE Africa, a charity which was initiated by our companion link dioceses in SA; Mustard Seed, a York Diocese based organisation which works in the poorest parts of our diocese; and a variety of Refugee charities based in the City of York.  Thank you for your generosity.

The Social Group exists to organise and run a programme of affordable events to foster a sense of community within the congregation, staff and volunteers. Events include talks, visits, musical evenings and a Harvest Supper and Barn Dance. Tickets are sold after the 11am Sunday Eucharist service, usually in the North Transept over coffee, or by emailing [email protected].