York Minster and the Five Sisters Window

‘You here present who mourn their passing from your homes will know that their names will remain forever here, written on the Minster’s heart.’ 

Archbishop Cosmo Lang who preached at the service 100 years ago.

York Minster and the Five Sisters Window – a unique national memorial to women who died in WW1.

York Minster will mark the 100th anniversary of the rededication of the Five Sisters Window – the first and only national memorial to women who died in the First World War.

This muted stained glass window which serves as a memorial to the 1,514 servicewomen of the British Empire who died in World War One is the focus of two new exhibitions opened in York Minster this month.

The Five Sisters Window is a storied but often overlooked artwork; its grisaille glass makes it strikingly different to other windows in York Minster.

Completed around 1250, the window is made up of five lancets, each over 16 metres high and 1.5 metres wide. Its rededication as a war memorial was the vision of two inspirational women: Helen Little and Almyra Gray. Together, they established Britain’s first and only national memorial to women of the First World War.

Two new exhibitions have already opened inside the cathedral focusing on the women, past and present, who have shaped life at York Minster:

• Visions, Voices, Vocations: Commemorating Women of the First World War can be found in the North Transept just beneath the Five Sisters Window and explores the story behind the window and the vision and inspiring campaign that saw it become part of a memorial to women who died in service during the war.
• Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about some of the women commemorated in the memorial and their wartime roles, as well as York Minster’s ongoing research.
• Visions, Voices, Vocations: Celebrating Women in York Minster  is a new portrait exhibition from award-winning photographer Olivia Hemingway that will highlight the irreplaceable contributions of women across the life of the Minster.

The exhibition will be shown in the Minster’s medieval Chapter House across high-definition screens and will capture just some of the inspirational women who contribute to the life and mission of the Minster today, ranging from its police force and musicians to stonemasons and conservators.

As part of the programme there are Women in the Minster’ tours with York Minster’s expert volunteer guides following in the footsteps of influential women including Saint Hilda of Whitby, Saint Æthelburh of Kent, and Saint Helena of Constantinople.

Commemorative Evensong  

The Minster will hold a special service of Choral Evensong on Tuesday 24 June at 5.30pm to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the rededication. The service will start in the Minster’s Quire and end in the North Transept beneath the Five Sisters Window.

The Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, said:

“This anniversary is an opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of women in the First World War who took on diverse and dangerous roles, often as volunteers. 

“Our archive holds copies of the order of service from 100 years ago when the Five Sisters Window was rededicated in a ceremony with the Duchess of York. It is clear from this precious document just how important it was to the people of York, and those beyond, that there was a dedicated memorial here for women who died during the war. Archbishop Cosmo Lang, who preached at the service, summarised the cathedral’s support for this in saying: ‘You here present who mourn their passing from your homes will know that their names will remain for ever here, written on the Minster’s heart.’ 

“Today, the women who worship, work, and volunteer here are just as valued and important. This programme of activities and events seeks to highlight their diverse contributions and shine a light on those vocations which are perhaps less known, such as those of our female stonemasons.” 

Dr Helen Rawson, Director of Collections, Cultural Heritage and Learning at York Minster, added:

“It is incredibly exciting to be opening two new exhibitions inside the cathedral, both offering different interpretations of our theme ‘Visions, Voices, Vocations’. 

“The exhibition in the Chapter House will allow the public to ‘meet’ some of the women at York Minster through beautiful images captured by award-winning photographer Olivia Hemingway. It has been a real joy to collaborate with Hemingway on this project and to see these people through her eyes. 

“The exhibition in the North Transept explores the inspiring campaign to fundraise for the memorial and provides an insight into the role of women in the war – a subject which we know is close to many people’s hearts – especially in a year that sees us mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War. 

“As much as this programme has been about looking back at the work already done to commemorate women, we are also developing a list of women missing from the memorial’s roll of honour, checking against the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and other sources. 

‘We will seek to commemorate these women too’ she added.

Both exhibitions and the tours are included with a general admission ticket.