Common questions about the Minster
The questions newcomers most often ask — dress, belief, what’s on, getting involved, where to sit quietly, and what it costs.
On this page
Each is answered briefly here, and treated more fully in the section it links to.
Do I have to dress smartly to come?
No. Come in whatever you have on. Some choose to dress more formally for the eleven o’clock, but for the eight o’clock and the 9.15 jumpers and walking boots are fine. (What each of these services is, and what to expect at it, is explained in Worship at the Minster.)
I am not sure I believe in God. Am I welcome at a service?
Yes.Romans 15:7Welcome is not just good manners at the Minster; it is a command of the gospel — we are told to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us.“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”Romans 15:7Read the passage → Many in the Minster community would describe themselves, on any given day, as more doubtful than confident. Come, listen, sit, sing or pray exactly as you choose. (See Exploring Christian Faith.)
How do I know what is on this week?
The Minster website is the source of record — and you can reach it at any time using the Visit the Minster website button at the foot of every page of this Companion. The weekly notice sheet is printed for Sunday and posted online. The screens at the Minster carry news and what’s on. The private Facebook group “Beverley Minster (and daughter churches) Congregation Members” is the friendliest window onto daily life.
How do I get involved?
The simplest first step is a quiet conversation with one of the clergy or with a lay minister, in person after a service or by writing to the Parish Office at minster@beverleyminster.org.uk. We will help you find the corner that fits.
Where can I just sit quietly without taking part in anything?
St Katherine’s Chapel, off the south Quire aisle, is set aside for prayer and quiet. The Quiet Garden by the Parish Centre is also open during Minster hours. You are always welcome to sit anywhere in the building during opening hours without anyone expecting anything of you.
What does the Minster cost to run?
In the region of half a million pounds a year. The largest part is the cost of ministry — clergy stipends, pensions, housing — and the salaried staff team. The rest looks after a building several centuries old. It is not only salaries and stone, though: part of what we raise goes out again, to support charitable partners at home and abroad and the ministry we share across our own community. The Minster receives no support from the Church Commissioners or from central government, beyond a very limited amount of VAT relief; the money has to be found by the local worshipping community. (See Generous giving and our mission partners.)
Section 3 of 26 in the Companion
Discovering more
On the Minster website
Other websites
Offered as helpful starting points. These sites are not the Minster’s own, and may not reflect its views or tradition.