ADVENT RELIEF: MINSTER TO REOPEN AFTER LOCKDOWN
SEASON OF GOODWILL: The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, with the Advent wreath in its traditional position below the Central Tower at York Minster. Clergy have said it is a ‘ blessing and a relief’ that worship can restart as they prepare for Christmas.
CLERGY AT York Minster have said it is a “blessing and a relief” that worship and visiting can restart as they prepare for Christmas.
York will enter Tier 2 of the Government’s coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday and the Minster, inset, has announced that it will reopen for public worship on that day.
But the Rev Canon Vicky Johnson, precentor at York Minster, said there will be restrictions in place and Advent and Christmas will be very different from previous years.
“It is a blessing and a relief that worship and visiting can restart at York Minster and that we will be present for people as they prepare for Advent and Christmas,” she said.
“The ongoing need to control the virus means that capacity at services will be severely limited. Attendance at key services on Sundays and in Christmas Week will only be possible via our pre- booked online reservation system. However, digital worship has flourished at York Minster this year so all of our Advent and Christmas services and events, will be available digitally via livestream and on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. “So everyone will still be able to experience and enjoy Advent and Christmas at York Minster wherever they are.”