The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, preached at a Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication at All Saints, North Street, York, on the 19th October. Led by the Rt Revd Glyn Webster, former Bishop of Beverley and Priest-in-Charge of All Saints, the service marked the completion of extensive works to restore and conserve the building and its stained glass.
Barley Studios of Dunnington undertook the three-year conservation of the 14th and 15th Century windows, followed by full redecoration carried out by specialists from Furniss & Sons Ltd, including the painting of a stunning star ceiling above the chancel. Based on surviving evidence within the church, the ceiling is thought to recreate the chancel decoration of the mediaeval period as well as enhancing the present-day beauty of the building.
The restoration works at All Saints North Street have been funded by a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the generous contributions and bequests of private donors.
Alison Gilchrist, Glass Conservator at Barley Studio, and Chris Cotton, Conservation Architect to All Saints read from scripture, and Fr Glyn dedicated one of the panels of the newly restored ceiling to the memory of baby Ezra, Chris’s grandson, who died recently.
Archbishop Stephen’s sermon highlighted the importance of our “sacramental” church buildings, noting that they are indeed “outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace,” though, “We really need our buildings because we need to know that the Church isn’t a building.”
- All Saints’ church is open daily throughout the year from 10.00am until 4.00pm with a Thursday lunchtime service at 12.30pm and Sung Mass at 5.30pm on Sunday evening. A programme of events can be found on the church’s website: allsaints-northstreet.org.uk.
