This week, two exciting new exhibitions will open at York Minster, honouring both the remarkable women from the First World War and those who contribute to the life and mission of the Minster today.
The exhibitions coincide with the 100th anniversary of the rededication of the Five Sisters Window, originally installed as a national memorial to women who died during the Great War.
Curated by women, about women, both exhibitions will open to the public on Thursday (5 June).
Visions, Voices, Vocations: Commemorating Women of the First World War
Located in the North Transept, directly beneath the Five Sisters Window, this exhibition explores the vision and determination that led to the window’s restoration as a tribute to the thousands of women who lost their lives in the First World War.
It introduces the work of Helen Little and Almyra Gray, the inspirational women who led the fundraising campaign, joined by over 32,000 others, to establish the memorial 100 years ago.
Visitors can learn about some of the women commemorated in the memorial and their wartime roles, alongside York Minster’s ongoing research. The exhibits include:
- The original oak panels engraved with the Roll of Honour, listing the names of 1,514 women.
- Almyra Gray’s scrapbook, offering a personal glimpse into the development of the campaign.
- Handwritten notes by Helen Little, including drafts of the window’s inscription and personal thanks to the Minster’s Works Team.
Visions, Voices, Vocations: Celebrating Women in York Minster
Running alongside the historical exhibition is a contemporary portrait exhibition, celebrating ten women who shape life at York Minster today, through photographs.
Presented in the medieval Chapter House, the exhibition features photographs by award-winning photographer Olivia Hemingway, displayed on high-definition screens.
These portraits are accompanied by personal anecdotes that offer insight into the women’s roles and lives, ranging from police officers and musicians, to stonemasons and conservators.
Behind the exhibitions
YorkMix spoke to the women behind each of the exhibitions, to learn more about the creative process.
Kirsty Mitchell, York Minster’s Curator, led the development of Visions, Voices, Vocations: Commemorating Women of the First World War over six months, “although I think longer would have been great!” She joked to YorkMix.
“The Five Sisters Window is the only national memorial to women of the First World War, so it’s a real honour to be part of this,” Kirsty said.
“The exhibition tells the story behind its creation, a vision led by Helen Little and Almyra Gray, who, along with tens of thousands of women, restored the window and created the roll of honour. It’s very much a campaign by women, for women.”
The team faced challenges in choosing which stories to highlight. “How do you do justice to the sheer scale of women’s contributions in such a small exhibition?” Kirsty questioned. “We’ve selected a few individuals, but every name represents a life and a story.”
Dr Jennie England, research coordinator at the Minster, shared the story of Betty Stevenson, a 21-year-old YMCA worker who died in France, which really stuck with her.
“She’s remembered in the King’s Book of Heroes, and I found records relating to her family when they were corresponding with the imperial war museum.
“It was an example of a York story being thought about in other places, which really stood out for me.”
Modern portraits
Photographer Olivia Hemingway brought the second exhibition to life, capturing the diverse roles of the women behind the Minster in 2025.
Olivia was approached by York Minster’s head of marketing Joe Priestley who had kept her in mind for the project.
“He thought I’d be a suitable fit for this exhibition because I photograph a lot of people in portraits, and I like to tell stories and delve into the little details of people’s lives,” she told YorkMix.
Some of the woman were photographed with a personal object, a tartan scarf, hazelnuts, even their pet dogs, as subtle symbols of their personality and identity.
“There’s things that we take for granted, just everyday things that have these stories weaved into them, I like to photograph details.
“I hope people take away the personal stories and find some surprising elements too,” she added.
Exhibition details
Both exhibitions will launch this Thursday and are open during standard visiting hours.
Entrance is included with a general admission ticket to York Minster.
Running until December 2025, Visions, Voices, Vocations: Commemorating Women of the First World War is on display in the cathedral’s North Transept, beneath the Five Sisters Window.
Running until 16 November 2025, Visions, Voices, Vocations: Celebrating Women in York Minster is on display in the cathedral’s Chapter House.
For more information on both exhibitions, click here.