Celebrations The Minster

York Minster is a marvel of the medieval age.

A testament to human faith and the worship of God.

It's a building where tradition is everything.

And from Easter to Christmas,

the Minster has to plan for every eventuality.

Keep it going, keep pushing, don't stop pushing!

This is the story of one year in the life of the Minster.

And for the people who work here, it is much more than a job,

it's a calling.

It's nearing the end of the church year

and Christmas will soon be coming to the Minster.

It's a celebration of the birth of Christ,

and another milestone in 1,300 years of Christian faith in the city.

It'll be a hectic time for the Minster.

But it's also a chance to reach out beyond

its Church Of England heartland.

Today, though, head verger Alex Carberry is a man with a mission.

It's going to be a bit of work, bit of grunting, bit of toil,

-but I'm sure you're all up for that.

-Absolutely.

-We are.

You are? Excellent.

What I want to do is...

Alex and his vergers look after the day-to-day running

of the inside of the Minster.

And this morning, he feels more like he's in the removal business.

I reckon if I had a pound for every chair I've moved,

I'd be a millionaire by now.

More than 1,000 chairs have to come out of the nave

to make way for some unusual guests.

The Minster is taking part in a city-wide art festival.

In an attempt to attract a younger crowd,

four graffiti artists have been invited to spray paint

on giant canvases in the central nave.

Graffiti would normally attract the attention

of the Minster's very own police force.

This time, the Minster and Alex are more relaxed.

We call it graffiti, which comes from the Latin meaning scratching,

and it goes...

Being Latin, it goes back to Roman times and the classical world,

graffiti was around then, it's around now,

and we're just doing our bit to sort of try to embrace it

and show it in a different space.

And it's not just the chairs that have to go -

the lectern, organ, and alter are shifted as well.

Just watch this here.

Making so many chairs disappear isn't easy.

Some are piled high in the centre of the nave

where the street artists will perform.

Others disappear below ground.

But as the furniture moves out, the visitors keep on coming in.

The only respite comes when everything stops for prayers.

INAUDIBLE TANNOY ANNOUNCEMENT

My own personal tally, probably about 200, I would guess, by the end of it.

Because it's been a good team effort.

With the nave cleared of most of its furniture,

a cavernous space is revealed.

But is the Minster really ready for its brush

with the 21st-century art?

While the Minster prepares for the graffiti artists,

outside the building there's a bit of drama.

Background, action. Action!

The clock's been turned back 200 years

for the BBC's murder mystery, Death Comes to Pemberley.

The crew's here and so are some of the stars.

Rubbing shoulders with Matthew Rhys and Jenna Coleman

is the Minster's Morwen Ayres.

-Morwen to East End.

-Good morning.

-Good morning. They're about to start filming again.

-OK, thanks.

Morwen normally looks after weddings and banquets,

today she has a film crew to keep happy.

-Hello, can I help?

-Hello, yes.

I could do with getting into the side door down the alley.

Coordination is everything. The filming is taking place

next to the Minster's £20 million renovation project.

I was already in the East End

to ask them to stop work so filming could happen,

because the noise travels over, so it is a real team effort -

just communicating with everybody,

being there as support if they need any.

Every trace of modern York has been erased.

With the shops turned into grocers and tailors,

complete with traders and livestock.

I'm looking after Truffles, she can get a bit naughty,

so she might head over to the vegetable stand and demolish that.

I can't believe they tolerated us.

I mean, you see all this work going on up here,

they've literally had to stop while we're rolling.

And action!

In terms of making a show like Death Comes to Pemberley,

which is a continuation of the Pride and Prejudice story.

My greatest ambition was to make it truly authentic,

and it's very, very hard to find anywhere in this country now

that has, you know, a sense of what Georgian England

still looks like today.

And York has an abundance of these kind of places.

We're supposed to be in Derby, I have to say,

but Derby doesn't provide us with the kind of locations York does.

Action!

Morwen gets an unexpected, but temporary, memento.

Mr Darcy's sunglasses.

He was wearing them before a scene and he threw them on the grass

and didn't want them to get stood on, so I'm guarding them for him.

The life.

SHE LAUGHS

-Going to start taking all the front shops off.

-Right.

So that's a wrap for the film crew.

And for Morwen a job well done.

Filming's obviously finishing,

so I've just got last-minute wrapping up things to do, make sure we finish.

I'll close down the building later, once they've all gone,

and then that's me until tomorrow morning

when it's all deconstruct.

Back inside the Minster and the festive season is about to start.

It's the beginning of the Advent festival

that runs up to Christmas Day.

It starts with the dressing of a giant wreath

that'll be suspended above the Minster floor.

Volunteers have brought cuttings from their gardens

and head verger Alex is on hand to supervise.

OK, ladies, if you could stand clear, please, we're going to send it up.

The Advent garland is a Christmas tradition.

As is the involvement of children from the Minster's preschool.

It's very interactive,

we'll get some of the children to actually put the candles in place.

We'll measure the children against the candles,

see who's the biggest candle/child.

And we'll also get the children to help us raise the Advent wreath.

And, hopefully, this year,

they're going to find it a magical experience.

Today is a special day,

because we're almost ready to wish each other a Happy New Year.

Because, for Christians,

the New Year begins about four weeks before Christmas Day.

Now, it's Alex's turn to see how the children measure up.

Now, here's the first candle.

Look at that, it's taller than Bella!

Is it taller than Arthur?

-No.

-No, it's about the same height, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Do a lot of lifting, come on, lift, lift, lift!

Let's move it forward.

And into the socket.

That's very good, well done.

As the last candle goes into the wreath,

Alex ends up seeing stars.

Fight my way through the foliage.

It's like I'm A Celebrity ...

There we are.

With Alex's head still spinning, he tries some kidology on the children.

This is where you're going to have to help me.

What you're going to have to do is push with all your might.

'In previous years, I've usually hidden, behind my back,

'the remote control that operates the hoist.'

Keep it going. Keep it going, keep pushing, don't stop pushing!

'This year, I was totally hands-free.'

Keep pushing it up, bit further, bit further. Keep going.

'One of my colleagues was hidden from view, from the children,

'so when they were pushing the Advent wreath up,

'they obviously thought they were doing it themselves

'with a little help from me.'

Whereas, of course, someone else was pushing the buttons.

Up, up.

And stop.

Tourists from all over the globe come to see the Minster.

Two million visitors enter the building every year,

but attracting people from York is a problem - even though

entrance fees are waived for city residents.

So, if the locals won't come to the Minster,

then the Minster is going to go to them.

Looking forward to Tang Hall?

I am, actually.

I mean, the main thing is to be, you know, positive advocates, isn't it?

For the Minster. And try and get that message across.

Definitely, yeah.

Outreach workers Griselda Goldsbrough and Helen Moore

are on their way to Tang Hall Primary School,

in one of the more socially deprived parts of the city.

You can see the Minster from here, but for some children,

it feels like a world away.

When we asked them what the Minster was,

and what they thought it does, it was very much they didn't know

it was a working church - they didn't know it was a church at all.

Some of them thought it was a castle,

some of them thought it was a tower,

some of them thought it was just a big building,

and they didn't know what types of people would go in.

The Minster is working closely with a number of schools in the city,

and it seems perceptions are changing.

The Minster was just something in the middle of York that

wasn't really part of their lives,

and I really think it's drawn them in to being part of it,

and seeing it as part of their world rather than just this big

building in the centre of town.

Yes, it's almost like in the past its been like a backdrop.

It's turning it into 3D.

It's made it alive. They now know that they can go through the door,

they now know -

they've all turned into little tour guides for their parents.

The outreach team know

if they enthuse the kids on their doorstep, then others may follow.

What were we going to put on our lanterns?

Can anybody remember?

If you go up, you think it's just a boring old church,

but once you get inside, it's actually really, really good.

When I go into town I see it, and I'm like,

"Oh, my gosh, I went there, Mum.

"I went there, I loved it there, and I want to go in there again."

It's the best, nicest place in York,

cos most people like the York Dungeon,

but I like the Minster mostly,

it's the nicest, calmest place on earth.

These lanterns will be given pride of place in the Minster

later in the year.

Have to get all your lines really red. I know it's a bit tricky.

In the battle for hearts and minds,

it seems some are starting to look at the Minster in a whole new light.

Opening up the building to new people

has become a key part of the mission.

Even if sometimes it means the Minster

stepping outside its comfort zone.

For the first time, four graffiti artists

will spray-paint on giant canvasses inside the nave.

And the architecture of the Minster will be their motivation.

It's just full of inspiration.

So much so that you almost don't know what to do,

because it's just an insane amount of incredible history,

and so much subject matter that it's just a little bit daunting.

It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been in.

You can't fail to be inspired here, really.

And there's so much history,

it kind of starts pushing your own ideas out of your head!

You have to step back and breathe to refocus

on what you're actually there to do.

The idea is to kind of embody some of the drama

and the poetry of the building.

So I'm sort of looking at a lot of the stonework,

a lot of the statues, and just trying to basically capture

some of that ambience on the painting.

So it's just going to develop throughout the few nights,

so we'll see what happens by the time I get down there!

I've been using elements from the sort of Puginesque

Gothic architecture.

The symbols of the keys, which are one of the symbols of the cathedral.

We've got St Peter here,

you've got, like, the rooks and stuff.

You've got the Mary, you've got cherubs.

Just trying to tie it all in together, but at the same time,

making it kind of like a symmetrical bit of pop art,

so that when you stand back, it will line up with the building,

and it kind of works with the architectural space.

It's nice it see something a little bit more contemporary

going on in the building, and something a bit more challenging.

Nice forward-thinking attitude and, I don't know,

-old meets new in a kind of really great setting.

-Yeah.

When I first saw it, I was a little bit nervous.

I'm not particularly religious,

bit I did feel almost like there was a bit of blasphemy

in the fact that it was, like, street art in a space like this.

But then it grew on me, and as I saw the creative expression

of the artists coming through, it actually started to work for me.

Seeing the colour being added as well, I find that really fascinating,

and actually how accurate these guys are with the spray cans,

it's not just daubing a tag on a piece of brickwork, you know,

it's precision artwork, it's stunning.

I just kind of hope that people see street art and graffiti

as not the enemy, it's not a bad thing,

it's a valid form of expression.

It's like any other art form, except you're using a spray can.

And for somewhere like the Minster,

which is such a beautiful building, that needs to be preserved

and looked after, to do something like this in here is really brave.

Very much about bringing in new audiences,

so trying to attract people we don't normally get into the Minster -

so, younger people,

also a more kind of arty crowd,

people from a bit further afield, West Yorkshire, as well as in York.

And I think we've definitely achieved that, we've seen new faces,

lots of students and younger people.

It's gone really well.

The Christmas season is the busiest time of year for the Minster.

The first major event is the Advent procession.

It's an atmospheric service which begins in darkness

and is then illuminated by candlelight.

And, for Alex, it's the start of a logistical headache.

It's one that always...

I don't know, I always get nervous about,

because I think we've got the combination of children, candles,

darkness, that if anything did go out of kilter,

it would be quite obvious.

What you do need is-is your sticks.

You'll all need one of those.

We need to put some tapers in them.

With more than a thousand people due to attend,

the vestry is a hive of activity.

-There's tables at the halfway point...

-Right.

..and there's also tables either side of your seats,

with a load of extra tapers on there.

There's a lot resting on Alex's shoulders,

and plenty of people who need to be briefed.

I'm wanting to make sure everybody knows

what they're supposed to be doing, so that when we actually start,

we're not having to give any last-minute, hurried instructions.

The important thing is that the light mustn't go ahead of the choir.

It's not so much nerves as just paying attention to detail.

The theme of the service is the coming of Christ.

It's symbolised by the lighting of a single candle,

with the flame then passed amongst the worshippers.

And for the man who organises the daily services at the Minster,

it's his favourite day of the year.

I think there is a marvellous sense of expectancy, of waiting.

Although I've done this every year for 20-odd years now,

it never ceases to amaze me what an effect that single candle has,

spreading throughout the whole building.

ALL SING

As the choir moves amongst the congregation,

light returns to the Minster.

Because York Minster is so big, the Christmas trees are huge, too.

These are well over 20 feet tall, and with such a small

entrance to negotiate, it's decided that only brute force will do.

One, two, three.

All ready, then?

One, two, three.

And so an unusual cargo is unceremoniously dragged past

the Minster's delicate architecture.

Even the carpets inside the Minster are huge,

and are moved out of the way.

Steady on.

This tree will be placed next to the high altar.

And being so close to some rather precious artefacts,

the last thing anyone needs is any mishaps.

Whoa!

Well, it's the effort.

I think the bottom's come out of the box,

so it's a bit of a minor setback, but...

I don't think it's going to go anywhere.

It's been a struggle,

but calm finally returns to the Minster once more.

Just hope it stays in place.

And doesn't come crashing down during any of our services.

With Christmas Day looming, head verger Alex is a man in demand.

He's been called over to the Minster's preschool,

where a special role awaits him.

Hopefully it'll all fit.

I'll do anything.

I'll try and do anything to sort of lighten people's lives up, you know?

So, yep, I'm prepared to put on a ridiculous red costume

with a fake beard

and go ho-ho-ho-ing.

The children at the school are very excited about Santa's arrival.

Alex, though, is slightly worried about his reputation

amongst his fellow vergers.

When they see it, they're going to find it most amusing,

and probably going to ridicule me,

and take the mickey for the foreseeable future.

It's the pinnacle of my career so far.

I feel I've finally made it,

now I've managed to be dressing up as Santa Claus.

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!

Ho, ho, ho!

CHUCKLES: Oh, dear!

I'm relishing this.

Alex is ready for his big moment...

when there's a little delay.

You might want to take that off your head,

cos some of them are on the loo!

Oh, bless 'em.

-Well, as long as they go now.

-Yes!

-Cos I don't want them to go on me!

BELL RINGS

- Ho, ho, ho! Hello, everybody! - ALL: Hello!

Have you all been very good this year?

ALL: Yes!

Practical as ever, Alex has a question for the children.

Have you all cleaned your chimneys for me?

-Yes!

-No!

-No?!

So I've got to get black and sooty, have I,

when I come down the chimneys?

Have you been good?

You have? Good.

It's funny how everyone's been so good this year, isn't it?

You all be practising saying, "Ho, ho, ho"?

Go on, let's have a good "Ho, ho, ho".

ALL: Ho, ho, ho!

Thank you, Father Christmas, and happy... Merry Christmas to you.

Thank you very much indeed!

Thank you all very much.

See you on Christmas Eve, yes, but you'll be all fast asleep, won't you?

-Yeah.

-Yes, good.

See you all later.

- See you Christmas Eve! - ALL: Bye!

No tears. Apparently, in the past,

some of the children have been afraid of Father Christmas, for some reason.

But I wasn't a scary Santa this year, which is nice to know.

So, hopefully I might have the same gig next year.

Big nice smiles.

# Jingle bells, jingle bells

# Jingle all the way

# Oh, what fun it is to ride

# In a one-horse open sleigh

# Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

# Jingle all the way

# Oh, what fun it is to ride

# In a one-horse open sleigh

# We're dashing through the snow

# In a one-horse open sleigh

# Across the fields we go

# We're laughing all the way

# Bells on bob tails ring

# Making spirits bright

# What fun it is to laugh and sing

# A sleighing song tonight

# Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

# Jingle all the way

# Oh, what fun it is to ride

# In a one-horse open sleigh

# Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

# Jingle all the way...

# Oh, what fun it is to ride

# In a one-horse open sleigh, oi! #

It's just after quarter past seven on the morning of Christmas Day.

So, a very significant day in the church's calendar,

and for all Christians.

Christmas Day started much earlier for us here at the Minster,

with our first Eucharist for Christmas Day at 11:30 last night,

so, for some of us, it was about 2:30 by the time we got home.

After such a late finish,

Alex is now functioning on a minimal amount of sleep.

That will make it out to be round about three and a half hours,

without any interruption.

So I think, when I get home,

it might be a few more hours' sleep before we have our Christmas turkey.

As the city of York wakes up, the vergers are already hard at work.

More than 1,500 worshippers are expected,

and although Alex is used to running big services,

he isn't taking anything for granted.

Well, I've been here 23 years, so I guess this will be my 22nd Christmas.

But you treat each Christmas, or any festival,

as though it's the first time you've ever done it, so you don't miss

attention to any of the detail that we've got to pay attention to.

And, as if there's not enough to organise,

a couple of hours before the main event

there's another service to squeeze in.

-Happy Christmas, young man.

-Happy Christmas.

-Are you all right?

-Yes, thank you.

-Good.

I'm about to go up the southwest tower,

where the bell-ringers are preparing to ring in Christmas Day,

and what I do is just go up and I'll have a prayer with them

before they ring, and wish them all a happy Christmas,

and then stay there for a while while they start off the ringing.

Lord God, we thank you for the good news of this day.

That, on this Christmas Day, we give thanks

that You shared our life by becoming one of us in Jesus.

And we pray that, as we ring this morning,

we would let the city know of these joyful tidings.

We ask it in Jesus Christ's name.

- Amen. - ALL: Amen.

BELLS RING

Merry Christmas.

Follow the cross out as normal

during the Gradual hymn.

It's been a celebration of the birth of Christ,

and another chapter almost complete in the long life of the Minster.

May the God of all healing and forgiveness draw you to Himself

that you may behold the glory of His Son.

The one...

..bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.

To you is born this day, in the city of David, a saviour,

who is the Messiah.

800 years ago,

the current York Minster was built for the worship of God.

It remains a place of faith and devotion.

The blessing of God Almighty, the Father,

the Son and the Holy Sprit, be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

On one hand you can have tradition,

that people feel it's stiff and starchy,

and, you know, why don't we radicalise everything?

But at the same time, tradition can actually give a nice foundation,

that you know what you're going to get,

and therefore you can be comfortable with it, and for us,

the fact that it is that sort of tradition,

where we are comfortable with it,

means we can bring some humanity to the whole thing.

To actually be able to work here and worship here and serve here -

it's a great honour.

I pinch myself at times, and think, "Do you know?

"They're paying me to do this, and I'm really enjoying it."

And it's great.

And it's really... it is the best job in the world.