• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

  • News
  • Radio
  • Vouchers
  • WIN
  • More
    • Tickets
    • Lifestyle
    • Advertise
    • About
    • Contact

Tributes to highly skilled York Minster stonemason who died aged 36

Mon 9 May

Matthew Rowe working at the York Minster stonemason's yard. Photograph: Instagram

Mon 9 May 2022  @ 6:15am
YorkMix
News

A talented stonemason at York Minster took his own life, an inquest heard.

Matthew Rowe, 36, had worked at the cathedral’s stonemason’s yard for six years before his death on 9 August last year.

An inquest held in Northallerton on Friday (6 May) was told that Mr Rowe was “a highly skilled craftsman” who was “loved, cherished and adored by all his family, friends and colleagues”.

In a statement, Matthew Johnson of the York Minster police told the inquest he would see Mr Rowe a couple of times a week during patrols around the stonemason’s yard.

On 9 August at 10.15am PC Johnson was summoned to the Minster office and told there were concerns about Mr Rowe.

A fellow stonemason had a key to Mr Rowe’s home. They went to his flat, in Priory House, St Paul’s Square, Holgate, York, where PC Johnson knocked on his door.

When there was no answer, he let himself in and discovered Mr Rowe. An ambulance was called and paramedics certified the time of death as 11.15am. A note to his family was found nearby.

Where to get help

When life is difficult, Samaritans are available – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123. And the following organisations also offer advice and help

Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.
Phone: 116 123
Visit the Samaritans website

SOS Silence of Suicide provides a listening service For children and adults who need emotional support, understanding, compassion & kindness.
Phone: 0300 102 0505
Visit the SOS Silence of Suicide website

Shout is a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone struggling to cope and in need of immediate help.
Text SHOUT to 85258
Visit the Shout website here

HOPELineUK offer support, practical advice and information to young people considering suicide and can also offer help and advice if you’re concerned about someone you know.
Phone: 0800 068 41 41
Visit the Papyrus website

CALM, the campaign against living miserably is a suicide prevention charity that offers free, anonymous and confidential support via their helpline and webchat for anyone who is in crisis.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily 5pm-midnight)
Visit the CALM website

Lifeline provides support to people suffering distress or despair in Northern Ireland, regardless of age or district.
Phone: 0808 808 8000 (24 hours a day)
Visit the Lifeline website

Community Advice & Listening Line offers emotional support and information on mental health and related matters to people in Wales.
Phone: 0800 132 737 (24/7) or text “help” to 81066
Visit the Community Advice & Listening Line website

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide exists to meet the needs and break the isolation of those bereaved by the suicide of a close relative or friend.
Phone: 0300 111 5065 (9am to 9pm daily)Visit the Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide website

Show more +Show less

Dr Vanessa Barrett, a GP at the Jorvik Gillygate Practice, said Mr Rowe had been registered as a patient with them since 2018.

In a statement she said Mr Rowe had been previously referred to primary care mental health in Hull for therapy for social phobia and anxiety.

In 2018 and 2019 he was prescribed the anti-depressant drug sertraline. In 2019 he was asked if he had suicidal thoughts and he said he didn’t.

‘All our hearts are broken’

The inquest was held at the old courtroom in Northallerton. Photograph © Google Street View

In a statement read out at the inquest, Mr Rowe’s mother Judith described him as a very happy child who settled well in school and had a lot of friends.

She said: “He loved animals and adored our family pet dogs, but he was always very creative and artistic and was happiest when he had a project on the go such as a piece of sculpture or a painting.”

After leaving school he studied photography and worked for a local newspaper, and later became a chef. “But it wasn’t until he found stonemasonry that he really found his niche.”

He studied stonemasonry at college and then gained an apprenticeship at York Minister.

“Matthew had been at York for just over six years and become a highly skilled craftsman having a great love for all traditional crafts,” Mrs Rowe said.

“He also gained a degree in cathedral stonemasonry, something he thought he would never achieve.

“We his family was so proud of Matthew. He was loved, cherished and adored by all his family, friends and colleagues. All our hearts are broken.

“He was a very special, gentle person and a much to it son, brother, uncle, grandson and nephew who will be missed and loved forever and never forgotten.”

North Yorkshire coroner Jon Heath confirmed that the cause of Mr Rowe’s death was hanging, and his conclusion was suicide.

[tptn_list limit=3 daily=1 hour_range=1]


Trending »


Primary Sidebar

Footer

Contact us

General
01904 375 029

Studio/competitions
01904 375 030

Email YorkMix »

5-6 King's Court
Shambles
York  YO1 7LD

Listen to us

You can listen to YorkMix Radio using your DAB+ radio, Alexa or Google smart speaker, or online using the links below.

Click here to listen to YorkMix Radio »

Download the app from Google Play store
Download the app from Apple App store
About us

YorkMix is a trading name of
York Sound Ltd

Registered in England
Company no: 12831940
VAT no: GB289462452

YorkMix Radio public file

  • About
  • Public file
  • Privacy policy
  • Corrections & complaints
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 YorkMix