Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

Married to the Minster: being Mrs Dean
by Viola Jones, of the York Deanery

Report
by Carole Smith
Everything you wanted to know about running a cathedral but were afraid to ask, the last lecture in this year’s series, was appropriately revelatory (and humorous). We learned that a dean (emphatically not the bishop or archbishop) is responsible for running a cathedral: its upkeep; its services, liturgy and music; its status as a place of prayer and pilgrimage (or tourism).
In addition to the clichés to avoid when talking to clergy, we also learned that a plurality of deans is colloquially known as a forest.
Apart from Trollopian parallels, the secrets of the Deanery included managing the light bulbs and loo rolls, its numerous guests ranging from royalty (requesting cheese-and-pickle sandwiches) to the BBC’s farming folk, the Archers. York Minster’s Dean, himself a busy man, has a consort who performs a staggering list of duties and activities.
The failure of the sound system unfortunately prevented the large audience, particularly at the back, from hearing many of the anecdotes that so entertained the front rows.