All Souls – York Minster

Remembering those we love, those who have died during the pandemic and those who have given their lives in past conflicts, will be at the heart of the Season of Remembrance at York Minster this year.

Love and remembrance is at the heart of York Minster’s events this season of Remembrance

On All Soul’s Day, Monday 2 November, the Minster will hold a day to remember those who have died this year, and all those recently bereaved will be welcomed into the Minster to remember their loved ones.

A space will be created inside the cathedral for people to sit quietly, to reflect, to pray and to light a candle for their dead. The day will conclude with the Minster’s annual Requiem Eucharist for All Soul’s Day at which a special candle will be lit for all who have died so far during the pandemic. This candle will burn at all the Minster’s major services over Advent and Christmas.

People We Love, a new commission by York based arts group KMA that invites you to focus on portraits of people as they gaze upon those they love, will open on All Souls Day at the Minster as part of York Medialé’s 2020 international media arts festival.

The installation is made up of a collection of five, large, high definition screens which will showcase a series of video portraits of York citizens. The portraits are focused on people who have been filmed looking at a photograph of someone they love. The viewer is invited to be part of their love story without seeing the object of their love but by simply experiencing the emotion on their face.

Visitors will also be able to add their story to the installation as a pop-up booth will be on-site, ready to capture the love stories of the city in pictures.

On Sunday 8 November, there will be a short Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration for those who served and those who died during the First and Second World Wars.

The Sung Eucharist service will start at 10.55am and will include the National two minutes’ silence at 11am. The Archbishop of York, The Most Revd Stephen Cottrell will preach at the service which will be attended by members of the City of York Civic Party, the British Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Royal British Legion, York. The service will be livestreamed from 10.55am making it possible for those who would normally attend the service to be part of it. This event will be ticketed.

Please note pre-booked timed slots will be required to ensure safe social distancing inside the cathedral. Pre-booked tickets will also be required for the annual Requiem Eucharist service at 5.30pm. Tickets for the service will be bookable online from Sunday 25 October.

To book tickets visit the York Minster website here.