York Minster Rose Dinner set out on "living carpet" of grass

The York Minster Rose Dinner saluting the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on the lawn in the Minster nave attended by 900 guests The York Minster Rose Dinner saluting the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on the lawn in the Minster nave attended by 900 guests

HUNDREDS of diners feasted on a banquet of fillet of beef and scotch quail eggs last night as the nave of York Minster was turfed over to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

As The Press reported earlier this week, the cathedral’s 14th-century nave has been covered in 1,500 square metres of real grass to welcome more than 900 guests for a special meal to celebrate the Jubilee and the York Minster Rose, and to raise money for the York Minster Fund.

Guests at the York Minster Rose Dinner walked and dined on tables set out on the “living carpet” which was grown on recycled textiles.

The outdoors theme was chosen to complement the new York Minster Rose, which was launched at Chelsea Flower Show last year.

The dinner was only the second such event to take place in the cathedral, following a dinner in 2008 to celebrate the restoration of the Great East Window.

Among the guests attending the meal were the acting Dean Canon Glyn Webster, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, Lord Halifax and Lord Crathorne.

The £150-a-head tickets for the meal sold out months ago.

Comments(46)

RingoStarr says...
11:18am Sat 9 Jun 12

Now, what WAS the name of that man who threw the moneylenders out of the temple?

NoMorePlease says...
1:08pm Sat 9 Jun 12

Jesus

dodgydavereturns says...
1:30pm Sat 9 Jun 12

I bet that living carpet was a sod to lay!

idlehousewife says...
3:16pm Sat 9 Jun 12

Cheap advertising for *********

sperare e coraggio says...
5:53pm Sat 9 Jun 12

Not cheap advertising at all. The Lindum company donated the grass covering which would normally be £30k. That is not cheap. That is generous. The floor covering was imaginative.
A great event for a great cause.
The references to moneylenders being thrown out of the Temple is unwarranted. The people attending were not seeking to make money there. They were helping to fund the future well being of the Minster. Entirely honourable.

expubcrawler says...
2:06am Sun 10 Jun 12

Agreed, a very nice event and for a good cause. But a Trapeze Artist in the Minster? That just seems a bit odd to me.

idlehousewife says...
8:13am Sun 10 Jun 12

I stand by my words - it was cheap advertising!
I was appalled to read about the entertainment provided - Archbishop Laud must be turning in his grave! It doen't take long for the atmosphere built up over centuries to be eroded by inappropriate use-Fountains Abbey provides a good example of this.

sperare e coraggio says...
8:25am Sun 10 Jun 12

It doesn't take long for the atmosphere to be restored. Come Monday the Minster will be back to normal. What's the problem? Where's the harm?

People had a good time and funds were raised to protect the building.

No drugs. No sex. No violence.

No problem.

idlehousewife says...
9:36am Sun 10 Jun 12

No religion!

3.8liter says...
11:04am Sun 10 Jun 12

When they are finished with the turf, what happens to it?
If they want rid of it I'll have some for my front lawn.

YorkToff says...
11:17am Sun 10 Jun 12

Illustrates how natures own temples are much more attractive than man made stone ones.

sperare e coraggio says...
11:26am Sun 10 Jun 12

No religion? What has that got to do with a peaceful event to raise money for the upkeep of the Minster. Religion has been at heart of much conflict. Faith is one thing; religion is another.
if you believe in God didn't he make everything - including all the people attending and the trapeze artists? There has been some pretty bad weather over the last few days but I don't recall any reports of a bolt of heavenly lightning setting fire to the Lindum grass!
Come on Idlehousewife for God's sake cheer up!

YorkToff says...
11:42am Sun 10 Jun 12

sperare e coraggio wrote:
No religion? What has that got to do with a peaceful event to raise money for the upkeep of the Minster. Religion has been at heart of much conflict. Faith is one thing; religion is another.
if you believe in God didn't he make everything - including all the people attending and the trapeze artists? There has been some pretty bad weather over the last few days but I don't recall any reports of a bolt of heavenly lightning setting fire to the Lindum grass!
Come on Idlehousewife for God's sake cheer up!
Certain things spring to mind.

Easier for a rich man to pass through the eye of a needle than to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Get out of my fathers house.

Knock, knock, whos there. Jesus, Jesus who?

sperare e coraggio says...
11:58am Sun 10 Jun 12

What springs to my mind is

Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Last time I looked at the ten commandments I didn't see one saying though shalt not support worthy causes for fear of offending Idlehousewife or Yorktoff who think they know better than the Dean and chapter of York Minster.

YorkToff says...
12:02pm Sun 10 Jun 12

sperare e coraggio wrote:
What springs to my mind is

Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Last time I looked at the ten commandments I didn't see one saying though shalt not support worthy causes for fear of offending Idlehousewife or Yorktoff who think they know better than the Dean and chapter of York Minster.
And you sir, simply does not understand thy Bible.

Nor do you understand the do as to others twaddle as the 1% are clearly not applying that to the 99%.

When greed is your God.

idlehousewife says...
1:03pm Sun 10 Jun 12

Well "sperare e coraggio" have you not read the passage from the Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 6 verses 1 - 18?

Will.I.Aint says...
6:17pm Sun 10 Jun 12

idlehousewife wrote:
Well "sperare e coraggio" have you not read the passage from the Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 6 verses 1 - 18?
Is that the bit about the cheesemakers?

sperare e coraggio says...
6:56pm Sun 10 Jun 12

I have read a much better book by Richard Dawkins called The God Delusion. Try it sometime.

As for greed Mr Yorktoff, you have no idea of the worth or character of any those attending the minster dinner so why brand them all as avaricious? But of course you are prejudiced aren't you? In your eyes anyone successful enough to be able to afford a ticket must be a greedy person. It is a part of your make up. Envy and resentment is the constant theme of your blogging.

YorkToff says...
7:28pm Sun 10 Jun 12

sperare e coraggio wrote:
I have read a much better book by Richard Dawkins called The God Delusion. Try it sometime.

As for greed Mr Yorktoff, you have no idea of the worth or character of any those attending the minster dinner so why brand them all as avaricious? But of course you are prejudiced aren't you? In your eyes anyone successful enough to be able to afford a ticket must be a greedy person. It is a part of your make up. Envy and resentment is the constant theme of your blogging.
My you are bitter and twisted.

Show me where I am envious and resentful.

On the contrary I want for nothing and have all that I want.

But I am VERY concerned for the welfare of many in the UK hence my desire to see the 1% cough up and help those less well off.

After all we are all in this together according to Boy George.

The Minster is supposed to represent the Christian Church in York yet costs a fortune to maintain and receives subsidies for its upkeep.

Should Jesus Christ walk down its huge interior would he not frown that such effort and money be spent on pillars of stone rather than be spent where it is needed most?

YorkToff says...
7:33pm Sun 10 Jun 12

By the way I am not religious.

Richard Dawkins is very knowledgeable but even he realises he knows nothing really and will never be able to square the circle.

Humanity is not likely to be around long enough to know everything and I like to let my mind wander in the imaginations egged on by a lack of understanding.

Which is what religion is all about I suppose.

But money and effort could be better spent I think.

Yorkie-Clifton says...
9:47pm Sun 10 Jun 12

sperare e coraggio wrote:
Not cheap advertising at all. The Lindum company donated the grass covering which would normally be £30k. That is not cheap. That is generous. The floor covering was imaginative.
A great event for a great cause.
The references to moneylenders being thrown out of the Temple is unwarranted. The people attending were not seeking to make money there. They were helping to fund the future well being of the Minster. Entirely honourable.
Rubbish Statement . The Lindum Co no doubt are delighted with this lapse of good sense by the Minster Authorities . Of course they will expect other business from other areas and it is naive to think differently . Please will some one tell me is the Minster a place of worship or a pasture for sheep . Certainly the sheep followed the leader , thinking it was smart and fashionable to do this . I am disappointed in this Archbishop as he seemed a man of God and the People . There are more morally decent ways to fund the future of the Minster and laying a Lawn is not one but a cheap promotion . I am very concerned at the management of this iconic building . I regret i will altering my Will as i have grave concern . I will not want to put my money into the pockets of the High Stewards . Totally Irresponsible .

Yorkie-Clifton says...
9:55pm Sun 10 Jun 12

expubcrawler wrote:
Agreed, a very nice event and for a good cause. But a Trapeze Artist in the Minster? That just seems a bit odd to me.
If this is true then the Acting Daft Dean wants sacking . This event could have been held in the N R M and proceeds to the Minster and maybe St Leonards Hospice . The Minster is not a Pasture or a Restaurant . How can anyone go into this place again and regard it with reverence . The whole thing saddens me as the peoples comments who support it are .

Yorkie-Clifton says...
9:55pm Sun 10 Jun 12

expubcrawler wrote:
Agreed, a very nice event and for a good cause. But a Trapeze Artist in the Minster? That just seems a bit odd to me.
If this is true then the Acting Daft Dean wants sacking . This event could have been held in the N R M and proceeds to the Minster and maybe St Leonards Hospice . The Minster is not a Pasture or a Restaurant . How can anyone go into this place again and regard it with reverence . The whole thing saddens me as the peoples comments who support it are .

Yorkie-Clifton says...
9:57pm Sun 10 Jun 12

idlehousewife wrote:
I stand by my words - it was cheap advertising!
I was appalled to read about the entertainment provided - Archbishop Laud must be turning in his grave! It doen't take long for the atmosphere built up over centuries to be eroded by inappropriate use-Fountains Abbey provides a good example of this.
Agreed

Oscarwilde says...
1:50am Mon 11 Jun 12

For another perspective...
There is no way on Earth that I could afford the £150 for a seat at this event, but I was lucky enough to be invited by a kind and generous friend whom I have recently supported through difficult times. He could easily have invited business clients but instead enjoyed a genuinely warm and caring evening in the surroundings of a precious building in which we both worship on a daily basis. True our table definitely didn't raise as much money as some others but everyone around me had a genuine love and concern for the Minster and it's work. It's quite sad to hear so many jaded comments on both sides. Please be assured that the experience had many positive human as well as financial outcomes, as least as far as one table was concerned.

sperare e coraggio says...
7:08am Mon 11 Jun 12

Thank you Oscarwilde for a more balanced view from someone at the heart of the affair.

I think one of your many famous quotes is pertinent here;

"We know who the critics are. Those who have failed in literature and art"

sperare e coraggio says...
7:30am Mon 11 Jun 12

MR YORKTOFF

It is not I who is bitter and twisted. You have allowed your left wing ideology to contaminate your view of the world. For you any person who seemingly is doing well must be "greedy" and all those in the Minster dinner must belong to the 1% super rich. Complete and utter nonsense in all respects. Many people who enjoy material success do so because of sheer hard work and effort. They have earned it and deserve it. Many of them also give generously to worthy causes. You do not have a list of persons attending that event or any detailed knowledge of how they came by their position, their incomes or their charitable actions and are therefore in no position to condemn them. You are being unreasonable in your sweeping generalisations. That is what prejudice does. Political prejudice and religious prejudice. Both are quick to condemn and slow to praise. You and Idlehousewife are living proof of it. The people enjoying themselves at the special one off minster event they were there to put money into a good cause and it is extremely doubtful that any one of them would qualify to be in a list of the 1% richest persons. Even if they were they we're putting their wealth to good use. They were not injecting themselves with drugs, indulging in an orgy or starting fights. They were trying to do something good and positive. Your criticisms are unwarranted.
Your problem is that in your world anyone who apparently has some material comfort is inherently bad while anyone who is in need is inherently good; irrespective of how those people arrived at that position or how they conduct themselves once in it. Your world is all black and white with no shades of grey.

Four legs good - two legs bad.
Four legs good - two legs bad.

That is your outlook isn't it Yoktoff? Or should we more accurately call you Marxtoff.

idlehousewife says...
8:05am Mon 11 Jun 12

As a practising Christian I take exception to a place of worship being used as a restaurant and a bar for cheap entertainment.It is not prejudice to voice this opinion .The best way to support the Minster is by giving on a regular basis not by having a "good night out".

YorkToff says...
10:07am Mon 11 Jun 12

sperare e coraggio wrote:
MR YORKTOFF

It is not I who is bitter and twisted. You have allowed your left wing ideology to contaminate your view of the world. For you any person who seemingly is doing well must be "greedy" and all those in the Minster dinner must belong to the 1% super rich. Complete and utter nonsense in all respects. Many people who enjoy material success do so because of sheer hard work and effort. They have earned it and deserve it. Many of them also give generously to worthy causes. You do not have a list of persons attending that event or any detailed knowledge of how they came by their position, their incomes or their charitable actions and are therefore in no position to condemn them. You are being unreasonable in your sweeping generalisations. That is what prejudice does. Political prejudice and religious prejudice. Both are quick to condemn and slow to praise. You and Idlehousewife are living proof of it. The people enjoying themselves at the special one off minster event they were there to put money into a good cause and it is extremely doubtful that any one of them would qualify to be in a list of the 1% richest persons. Even if they were they we're putting their wealth to good use. They were not injecting themselves with drugs, indulging in an orgy or starting fights. They were trying to do something good and positive. Your criticisms are unwarranted.
Your problem is that in your world anyone who apparently has some material comfort is inherently bad while anyone who is in need is inherently good; irrespective of how those people arrived at that position or how they conduct themselves once in it. Your world is all black and white with no shades of grey.

Four legs good - two legs bad.
Four legs good - two legs bad.

That is your outlook isn't it Yoktoff? Or should we more accurately call you Marxtoff.
Wow its a good job you never met up with Jesus because he would have looked at you dumbfounded, but maybe could have cured you of your bitterness and straightened your twisted views.

I wonder what Jesus would have said concerning the 1% - think about it before you engage keyboard.

Haven't you heard of paragraphs by the way?

YorkToff says...
10:08am Mon 11 Jun 12

sperare e coraggio read what I said:

"On the contrary I want for nothing and have all that I want."

Better now?

3.8liter says...
11:07am Mon 11 Jun 12

So what happens to the turf when they are finished with it?

Yorkie-Clifton says...
11:28am Mon 11 Jun 12

Look on E bay ---lol

Gary Gilmores Eyes says...
12:02pm Mon 11 Jun 12

‘idlehousewife says... 8:05am Mon 11 Jun 12
As a practising Christian’

Still not got it right yet? Or have you not yet taken the final exam?

Your time would be most fruitfully spent staring at a blank wall than anything to do with any religion!
Or the time/effort spent fixing the problems you or the world has than praying something that does not exist will fix it!

Delusion……

idlehousewife says...
7:01pm Mon 11 Jun 12

Sort out your syntax Gary!

sperare e coraggio says...
8:25pm Tue 12 Jun 12

YORKTOFF aka MR MARXIST

It is not I who is bitter and twisted. It is you and your left wing prejudice against anyone who is self-employed, in business, or has in some other way achieved a degree of material success that has the psychological problem. Anyone with any money is automatically condemned by you irrespective of how they acquired that success or how they behave. You invariably and instantly invoke the G word - "greed" on almost any article without the slightest justification for it.

Just look at this event. People attending it were there to GIVE and not to TAKE. They paid a hefty sum for tickets and once inside made further contributions by way of auctions and raffles to raise money for a worthy cause. They were all displaying a generous spirit. You by contrast have a very mean spirit. Anyone who has achieved something must, according to you, be selfish and "greedy". It is indeed you who is bitter and twisted. You hate the idea that some people have succeeded in life and managed to better themselves. The fact those people may in turn be sharing their success with others does not enter your head does it? No, in your world anyone with a few quid must be "greedy" simply because they have it. Your attitude to life is cynical and negative. It must be awful being you. So full of misery and resentment. So unble to congratulate others on success or wish them well. There are indeed some mega-rich people in this world who could be more altruistic but the folks in the minster last week were not oil billionaires or wicked capitalists. They were just everyday succesful people out to enjoy a social event and to raise money for a good cause. That does not make them "greedy". That makes them generous.

I know two people who attended the minster dinner. They told me it was a fantastic event - full of joy and happiness and goodwill to all men (and women). Neither of these attendees are "greedy" or for that matter well-off. Both were there because they worked for local firms with links to the minster. Both had bosses who had let them use the tickets supplied to that firm. More generosity from people you are so quick to condemn as "greedy" even though you don't even know them. What a sad little mind you have Yorktoff.

Now let's talk about Jesus. I am not a believer but I do agree with most Christian values and accept it is an honourable way to live and to treat people. I know something of the bible. Remember the good Samaritan? The parable told by Jesus of the traveller from an "outside" group who stopped to help the beaten victim left for dead by the roadside. You remember that story don't you Yorktoff? Others had all "walked by on the other side" but the Samaritan stopped to help. He picked up the victim, gave him water, cleaned him and dressed his wounds. Then he carried him on his donkey to an inn where he PAID for him to be looked after. That's right Yorktoff the Samaritan actually had some MONEY and used it to help another. That stuff you so despise that anyone who has more of it than you think they should must inevitably be "greedy". Jesus didn't have any problem with a man being wealthy enough to help another. Indeed, that was the whole point of the parable wasn't it? That it is right and proper to share one's good fortune and to help others. Not that one should never have any money. The point was " Who is my neighbour?". Not that if you are better off than me then you must be "greedy".

Well Yoktoff if Jesus were to come along today it would not be me that would dumbfound him. We'd get along fine. It would be your bitter and twisted views that would need his attention. Your condemnation of decent honourable people just because they are enjoying the fruits of their labours. As for the joyous event that took place "in his father's house" last Friday which raised funds for a worthy cause (while providing great enjoyment to many without causing any harm to anyone) well I'm quite sure he would thoroughly approve of that gathering which was as much in his name as any church service. It being entirely in accordance with the Christian message of giving and helping.

So Mr Yorktoff I shall sleep soundly tonight in the knowledge that I, like you, also have all that I need and want, but that I have something extra -the knowledge and wisdom to realise that people who have achieved something and enjoy a certain level of material comfort are not to be condemned as "greedy" just because narrow minded left-wing political bigotry dictates that it must be so.

Goodnight and God bless you and Mrs Idlehousewife. You need all the help and prayers you can get.

Yorkie-Clifton says...
9:52pm Tue 12 Jun 12

sperare e coraggio You have really shown yourself up in that tirade of personal insults etc . Anyone can take you to task on most of the things that you have said earlier and now say . Unlike you - I believe in The Trinity and i will do the Christian thing and hold my tongue . My thoughts now will be mine . I also know people who went to this event . I made my views of this event being held earlier . All these people could also have had a fantastic evening at a different venue . In a commercial building .

idlehousewife says...
11:02am Wed 13 Jun 12

May I remind you sperare that the initial debate was about the unsuitability of the Minster for such an event ? You have, instead,chosen to use it as a platform on which to launch a tirade against decent hardworking people who are concerned about the misuse of this wonderful building which forms an important part of our heritage.
I am sorry that you have chosen to abuse this honest debate by unfounded personal insult.
If you choose to re read my comments carefully you will realise that they are not based on prejudice which is an "irrational and unfounded point of view" but on a genuine concern that the Minster was, and may be continued to be used in an inappropriate way.I am sorry you felt it necessary to patronise me and those who share these concerns.

sperare e coraggio says...
5:10pm Wed 13 Jun 12

YORKIE-CLIFTON
IDLEHOUSEWIFE

I, the Dean and Chapter of York Minster, 900 guests and almost everyone I speak to disagree with your view that it was an inappropriate or undignified use of that building. I have no problem with you holding an alternative opinion or expressing it. But please don't expect me to keep quiet. I make no apologies for saying what I think about your view of things. I too am allowed to express my views.

My real beef is with Yorktoff and his completely unjustified accusations that those attending we're all "greedy" people when it is perfectly clear to any reasonable individual that those dinner guests were there to contribute generously to a worthy cause. That cause being to raise funds for the upkeep of a place of worship which would crumble we're it not for the efforts of those who invest time and effort to maintain it for future generations.

I have not shown myself up at all. I have stood up against negativity and prejudice.

Yorkie-Clifton says...
8:23pm Wed 13 Jun 12

Hollow words i'm afraid . Huf puf and blow your house down . What a pompous Person ? --I, the Dean and Chapter of York Minster. Who the HELL do you think you are ??

idlehousewife says...
9:32pm Wed 13 Jun 12

My thoughts too!

Buzz Light-year says...
8:23pm Thu 14 Jun 12

Well, would you look at that... it's not just me who thinks sperare is pompous...

TheTruthHurts says...
9:25pm Thu 14 Jun 12

No drugs. No sex. No violence

Meh, sounds like a s**t night to me

Yorkie-Clifton says...
10:25pm Thu 14 Jun 12

TheTruthHurts wrote:
No drugs. No sex. No violence

Meh, sounds like a s**t night to meThat really made me laugh . Thank you .

Yorkie-Clifton says...
10:33pm Thu 14 Jun 12

TheTruthHurts wrote:
No drugs. No sex. No violence

Meh, sounds like a s**t night to meThe past post was incorrectly Posted by THE PRESS.
I added to the quote ----
THAT REALLY MADE ME LAUGH. THANK YOU . hahahaah

newscritic says...
10:13am Fri 15 Jun 12

Yorkie-Clifton wrote:
TheTruthHurts wrote:
No drugs. No sex. No violence

Meh, sounds like a s**t night to meThe past post was incorrectly Posted by THE PRESS.
I added to the quote ----
THAT REALLY MADE ME LAUGH. THANK YOU . hahahaahThe Bible is full of it! And so, historically, is the Church.

newscritic says...
10:14am Fri 15 Jun 12

"No drugs. No sex. No violence"

The Bible is full of it! And so, historically, is the Church.

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