Mystery of £1m gift to Minster

9:09am Tuesday 24th October 2006

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AN anonymous benefactor has donated £1 million to the campaign to save York Minster's Great East Window.

The donor, described as a "Yorkshire philanthropist", explained his gift by saying that after visiting the Minster, and seeing for himself the enormity of the task of restoration, he decided to take the lead to help raise the required funds.

As revealed on this website, Director of development at York Minster, Dr Richard Shephard, said the donation was "extremely generous" and "very welcome", but that it was only a small portion of the £23 million needed.

The Minster faces multi-million pound bills for repairs to the East Front and renovate hundreds of priceless glass window panels dating back to the early 15th century.

Dr Shepherd said: "This donation is massively generous and one of the things we hope is that this might encourage other people to give substantially to the fund.

"Because the Minster is so big it seems to be so permanent and it's very easy to think that somehow or other it will just continue, but the reality is that it won't.

"It's made of stone which will eventually fall to bits and it happens that our generation is the unlucky one that has got this enormous repair bill and we have a huge responsibility to the region, the country and the world to preserve this building for future generations."

The donor has also contributed to many other worthy causes including the Prince's Trust, the University of York, local hospices and the diocese of York.

He has already given substantial gifts to York Minster in order to assist the dean and chapter in their work.

He said: "I am by no means the only person who is able to give a sum of this size. I hope very much that this donation will encourage others to consider supporting the York Minster Development Campaign in a similar manner.

"The reward will be the ability to look at the restored East Front in a few years time and be able to say, I helped do that.'"

Over a thousand people attended a service last Friday in York Minster to celebrate and commemorate the founders of the building and those who have been benefactors over the centuries.

The Dean of York, the Very Rev Keith Jones, said: "York Minster replies heavily on gifts from individuals and organisations. Over the years our donors have helped to beautify the building and keep it in good repair, so it is absolutely right that we should remember them formally on an annual basis with enormous gratitude."

Last month The Press reported that members of the Minster Old Choristers' Association donated £1,000 to the appeal at their annual reunion.