Multi-million pound campaign to save York Minster's stained glass windows

The project aims to give the windows, described as one of the wonders of the world, state-of-the-art protection for generations to come.

The cathedral, which holds the largest collection of medieval stained glass in the country, has announced a 20-year partnership with York Glaziers Trust to ensure all of its 128 windows have the benefit of environmental protective glazing.

To fund the work, the cathedral has teamed up with the York Minster Fund (YMF) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an innovative fundraising campaign. This involves a National Lottery grant of up to £1 million from the HLF to match every pound raised by the public and YMF, which will be used to establish an endowment fund to help pay for the £11 million project.

Currently, 74 of the cathedral’s 128 stained glass windows, which date back to the 12th century, have no protective glazing, leaving them exposed to the elements and subject to corrosion and decay.

The Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, the Dean of York, said: "We’re delighted to announce this new long-term plan to protect our stained glass windows, which are regarded as one of the wonders of the world, and grateful to National Lottery players for the funding that will make this possible.

"Currently almost 60 per cent of this precious and irreplaceable glass has no external protection from the environment, which means that moisture in the air is causing damage to our windows faster than we can conserve them.

"Condensation which builds up on the glass causes it to corrode and the paint to deteriorate and flake away. We’re therefore in a race against time to protect these irreplaceable works of art for future generations."

The new partnership and fundraising campaign will allow the cathedral to extend external protective glazing to all of its windows, which will halt the decay and buy much needed time for vital conservation work.

The work will be funded by a new fundraising approach due to be launched in 2018 between the YMF, the charity which works to raise money for restoration work at the cathedral, and the HLF.

The Heritage Lottery Stained Glass Endowment will involve a four year campaign where every £1 donated by the public will be matched by both the YMF and HLF, up to £1 million.

Three windows from the cathedral’s North Nave Aisle which are currently being conserved will be the first to have external glazing completed under the 20 year scheme.

The work follows the installation of revolutionary UV resistant glass in 2014 to the cathedral’s Great East Window - the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the country - as part of the York Minster Revealed project.

The final stage of work to restore and conserve the 15th century window is currently being completed, with the finished window due to be unveiled in spring 2018.