A stunning new light show at York Minster recalls the night the cathedral nearly burned down – and the incredible response to the blaze.
A year in the making, Phoenix transforms the Minster nave into a riot of light, colour and sound.
Visitors see lightning strike the cathedral, lead pour down from the roof and the iconic Rose Window crack, before the clean-up operation begins and expert restoration leaves York Minster standing as a symbol of hope in the city once more.
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The new artwork has been created by Ross Ashton and Karen Monid, the artists behind the multi-award winning Northern Lights in 2019 and Platinum and Light in 2022.
Karen began her research by asking for memories of that night, 9 July 1984. And she was amazed at the response.
“As I was reading the tweets that people sent back – these incredible memories, they’re like moments in time – I could hear the voices in my head saying those words.
“And I thought, this is actually an amazing story, and it’s such a human story as well.”
She says the story shows York in a very positive light.
“When it happened, the city kind of pulled together and rallied together, and gave their time, their money.
Times and tickets
- Phoenix runs from Saturday, 19 October to Saturday 2 November
- Monday to Saturday, the projection will start at 7pm, with booking slots available every 20 minutes until 9pm
- On Sundays, the projection will start at 6pm, with booking slots available every 20 minutes until 8pm
- Tickets cost £7.50 each, or £25 for a family ticket for up to two adults and two children (aged 16 and under).
- Tickets are available here – or on 01904 557200
“They gave whatever they could to help – local businesses as well. And then it had a national impact as well. Even the Queen gave a tree in order to help repair the roof.”
Ross said it was a challenge to distil all the memories into a presentation that’s 15 minutes long.
“We’ve tried to keep as much in as we can,” he told YorkMix. “The sense of the actual disaster itself in the morning after – you really have to have that moment of, ‘oh my goodness, what are we going to do now?’
“But the guys themselves say it the best: ‘We said to ourselves, come on, let’s get on, and we can sort this out’.”
The sound and light show includes everything from the incredible bravery of the firefighters to the Minster staff saving priceless artefacts, to the Blue Peter appeal to design bosses for the new South Transept roof.
All profits from the event will go towards conserving and maintaining the Minster.
York Minster’s Head of fundraising Cate Birch said: “What’s incredible about this show, so much of the Minster’s history is incredibly important, but people obviously don’t remember it – the Roman and Viking periods.
“This brings such emotive connections for so many people within York and across the world, because they can remember it.”
When Cate saw Phoenix for the first time, she was “blown away”.
“I think it’s absolutely incredible. And I love the way it tells a story, and it brings local people’s voices and memories. I think there’s something here for everyone of any age.”
- Phoenix is at York Minster until 2 November. Full ticket details in the panel above