£68k for Minster

1:59pm Thursday 20th March 2008

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THE restoration appeal at York Minster has been given a major boost, with a donation of nearly £70,000.

Dean of York, the Very Rev Keith Jones, received a cheque yesterday from the Company of Merchant Adventurers, which held a fundraising dinner last year.

The event raised £68,745.84 for the York Minster Revealed project, which aims to restore the stonework and glasswork at the East Front and improve the visitor experience, and includes the development of a new piazza at the south entrance.

Dean Jones said: "This is a marvellous example of people's enthusiasm getting a great result.

"It's a wonderful amount and it will help us enormously in meeting our target."

The Minster appeal has been awarded £10 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, subject to the Minster matching that amount itself. The money from the Merchant Adventurers will go towards that aim.

Nicholas McMahon Turner, a past governor of the Company of Merchant Adventurers, organised the fundraising dinner. He said: "I am most grateful to the many people both within and outside the company who have helped us to raise this large sum of money. For many years the company and the Minster have enjoyed a close relationship which continues today."

Dr Richard Shephard, director of development at York Minster, said: "This is a very significant sum, and all of us at the Minster are most grateful to the Merchant Adventurers and all those who helped to organise this magnificent piece of fundraising. It is splendid to see a continuing relationship between these two ancient York organisations."

The money was raised through ticket sales, sponsorship, and an auction at the dinner last autumn.

Backers included Addleshaw Goddard legal firm, St Peter's School in York, and David Williamson, of Brewin Dolphin stockbrokers.

The Company of Merchant Adventurers is a group of men and women from a variety of careers and backgrounds, who are united by an entrepreneurial spirit. The York company celebrated its 650th anniversary in 2007 and plays an important role in the civic and business life of York.

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