The historic cities of York, England, and New York City, USA, celebrated a century as twin cities on Sunday, with a message from His Majesty King Charles III marking the occasion, and dignitaries from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean coming together for the historic ceremony.
The cities of York and New York Celebrate a Century of Transatlantic Friendship: 100 Years of Twinning
Four days of activity in New York City, celebrating the two cities’ shared values, culminated in a special service at Saint Thomas Church, New York, on Sunday when a ledger stone designed and carved at York Minster in England was unveiled by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell and the Revd Canon Carl Turner, Rector of Saint Thomas.
British Consul General to New York, Hannah Young, read a message from His Majesty King Charles III.
The long-standing relationship between New York City and York stretches back to 1924, when citizens of New York presented York with a memorial tablet during a service in England, alongside a message from the then President of the United States.
Over the last century, the two cities have gone from strength to strength, forging partnerships across education, the arts, business, and tourism.
The Very Revd Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, said:
“We’re extremely excited that we’ve reached the next step in the programme of celebration marking the centenary of this historic moment as we look to further develop connections between the two cities.
“It comes at a time where work on our Centre of Excellence is well underway, a project that will establish the York Minster Precinct as a world-class campus facility for heritage craft skills, so we’re delighted to be able to showcase the talent of our stonemasons and the scheme on an international scale through this gift.”
The Revd Canon Carl Turner, Rector of Saint Thomas, said:
“In its bicentennial year, Saint Thomas Church is delighted to celebrate the historic relationship between old York and New York, as it were, and to uplift our Anglican heritage from which we draw so much tradition and strength.
“We feel privileged to house this historic ledger stone in our nave and look forward to welcoming delegations from York and the British Embassy.”
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell said:
“I’m delighted to be part of this moment when York and New York renew their connection.
“In a world where there is much division, reaching out across different cultures fosters goodwill and understanding, breaks down barriers and recognises we are all part of one humanity.”
Hannah Young, British Consul General to New York, read out a message from the King and said:
“For 100 years, York and New York have shared a special bond, and as Consul General to New York, I have seen first-hand how our countries have learnt from one another’s rich histories, our shared values to promote tourism, and foster business connections that benefit both cities.”
