York Minster Fire – PHOENIX

A new light and sound installation will illuminate York Minster this October to commemorate the fire of 1984 and to help raise funds to restore and protect this unique building.

A new sound and light installation to mark the anniversary of the York Minster fire and raise funds for its future, Phoenix

PHOENIX is a major new projection mapping and sound installation by Ross Ashton and Karen Monid specially created to bring the cathedral’s unique architecture and history to life.

The show, which will run for 15 nights from 19 Oct – 2 Nov is inspired by the devastating fire of 1984 after lightning struck and destroyed the roof of the south transept and almost shattered the famous Rose Window.

Telling the story of that night and its aftermath, PHOENIX will commemorate the bravery of those that responded to the fire, celebrating the resilience of York Minster and the people of York through their own words, in the very place where it happened.

Visitors will see lightning strike the cathedral, lead pour down from the roof and the iconic Rose Window crack, before the clean-up operation begins and expert restoration work leaves York Minster standing as a symbol of hope in the city once more.

Neil Sanderson, Director of the York Minster Fund, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Ross and Karen back to create another spectacular show for the Minster and, with such an inspiring story of both disaster and rebuilding.

“I remember seeing the fire on the news forty years ago and being shocked by those images of the flames in the darkness.

“The money raised is absolutely vital to ensure we can continue the work of restoring and protecting this magnificent building. Everyone who buys a ticket becomes part of the long history of this place, helping us to preserve it for future generations to enjoy.”

After each performance, visitors will have the chance to buy a special Restoration Rose pin badge based on a design created by Laura Edwards (née Smith) for a Blue Peter competition when she was 10 years old.

Of the 68 bosses on the South Transept ceiling at the time of the 1984 fire, all but six were damaged or destroyed. In 1986, York Minster launched a competition with the BBC’s Blue Peter to find new designs based on significant events from the 20th century. There were over 32,000 entries which were whittled down to the six winning designs that can be seen on the new ceiling of the South Transept today.

Laura’s winning design depicted the red and white roses of Lancashire and Yorkshire surrounded by flames, inspired by York Minster’s iconic Rose Window, which narrowly survived the fire.

All proceeds from the sale of PHOENIX tickets and Restoration Rose pin badges will help to raise funds for the ongoing cycle of restoration and conservation to the cathedral’s fabric.

The light and sound projection will open on Saturday 19 October and run each evening until Saturday 2 November. Tickets are available now via the cathedral’s website.

Part of the 40th anniversary events, an exhibition Out of the Ashes takes visitors on a journey through the dramatic events of 9 July 1984 using powerful eyewitness accounts and dramatic archive photographs. Visitors can rediscover the heroic rescue efforts, go behind the scenes of the clean-up operation, and delve into the four years of restoration works that returned the cathedral to its former glory.

Running until June 2025, the exhibition – Out of the Ashes – is in the cathedral’s North Transept, opposite where the fire took hold.

Kirsty Mitchell, Curator at York Minster, explains:

“The 1984 fire is a pivotal moment in York Minster’s history. The archive accounts reveal tragedy and the sense of horror, but also the resilience and huge community strength as people came together to do what had to be done.