Dean of York defends Anglican cathedrals

The Very Reverend Keith Jones, Dean of York has written
to the Catholic Herald, responding to an intemperate and ill-informed
attack on York Minster’s admissions charges and the Church of England in
general.

SIR – William Oddie makes very hostile comments about York Minster in
protest at the entry charge, and many other things. He does not say how
otherwise we are to maintain this gigantic building, which is not
subsidised by the state, and which employs (proudly) numerous skilled
workers in stone and glass, and music and teaching, to maintain York
Minster for the nation and the world at large.

We are not profiteers,
but a charity. We take pains to make our references to our constant
worship and Christian witness such that non-Christians will not be put
off, but his sneers fail to mention that we give free entry to acts of
worship or the fact that hundreds attend Evensong each day.

Then there is his charge of the Minster being “purloined” at the
Reformation. As an expression of hard-line opinion he is entitled to
utter it, but for those Christians who hope and pray for better it is
crude and hopeless.

For the record, our Anglican view is that York
Minster is the product and expression of English Christianity, and
belongs now as always to the people of England under their lawful
sovereign. The Dean and Chapter maintain and administer it for them by
the same law of the land.

The relationship of the Church of England with the see of Rome has
varied in form considerably over the centuries; however, we do not
believe that the Church of this land is constituted by our recognition
of the jurisdiction of the Pope and we hold to the hope of a union of
the Churches in which we can belong together again, the honour (and even
primacy) of the Roman see being appropriately recognised.

Of course it
is a difficult thing, but York Minster is a place where already many
traditions of English Christianity meet often in friendship and
hospitality, praying together and sharing many things we hold in common.

Mr Oddie’s accusations of criminality hardly relate to what we believe
to be the guidance, let alone the charitableness, of the Holy Spirit,
but rather to the jeers of sectarian strife.

Yours faithfully,

Keith Jones

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