York Minster celebrates return of congregations this Easter

Limited numbers have been able to attend services this weekend.

Author: Benjamin FearnPublished 4th Apr 2021

York Minster is celebrating Easter Sunday today with a limited number of people in the congregation.

Services have been livestreamed throughout the weekend with safety guidelines in place for people who can attend in person.

Doctor Victoria Johnson is the Canon Precentor at the Minster, and told Greatest Hits Radio York: "We're a mixed economy this year, but some of our key services are going to be livestreamed through our website and YouTube so people can actually experience the Minster during holy week from home.

"They can get an idea of what we do here in this magnificent building in York. I think it's really significant when people can come together, and especially in a place like York Minster which for many is their spiritual home.

"It's wonderful that we've been able to open, even in a limited way, to allow people to be in the building. I think the whole situation has maybe made us think a bit more widely about what the church is.

"It's a gathered community but also people all over the world gathered in prayer and praise; I think we're going to experience some of that this Easter.

"I think every sermon is responding to the words of the bible, but also the world that we're living in; I'm sure all of our messages this weekend are acknowledging that the whole world has been through a really difficult year.

"What the Easter message gives us is a sense of hope for the future. I think the message of Easter, and through Jesus new life, is something that might be really important for us all to reflect on this year.

"We all look in hope to the future at this point".

More information on how York Minster is mixing livestream services with congregations can be found here.