Carmelite honour for Dean of York Minster

Members of Carmelite Family with their new brother.

The Carmelite Order has granted its highest honour to the Dean of York Minster on the occasion of his retirement. On Sunday, 29 April members of the Carmelite Family in York, on behalf of the Prior General in Rome, presented 'Letters of Fraternity' to Very Reverend Keith Jones. It is the first time that such 'honorary membership' of the Carmelite Order has been given to someone who is not a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

Christianity came to York during the Roman occupation of Britain, and the first recorded church on the site of the present-day Minster was a wooden structure built in 627 to provide a place to baptise Edwin, King of Northumbria. Since then York Minster has been seen as a missionary centre, and a spiritual home and pilgrimage site for Christians from across the north of England. The present magnificent Gothic cathedral is one of the architectural treasures of Europe, and for well over a thousand years has been the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England. The day-to-day running of York's cathedral (known by the honorific title of 'Minster') is overseen by the Dean.

As Dean of York since 2004, Keith Jones has welcomed all people of good will to make use of the Minster and its facilities. Though an Anglican place of worship since the Protestant Reformation, York Minster today welcomes Christians of every denomination. The Dean has been particularly hospitable and friendly to the Carmelite Order, which has held large liturgies and small pilgrimages in the cathedral in recent years. Keith Jones has spoken to York Carmelite Spirituality Group about St Thérèse of Lisieux to whom he has a strong personal devotion, and under his leadership the Minster has collaborated with the Carmelites and other ecumenical partners in co-sponsoring the Ebor Lectures on Theology and Public Life.

On 29 April the Dean presided at his final celebration of Evensong in the quire of the Minster. Among the hundreds of worshippers present were members of York's four Carmelite communities: the Carmelite friars from Heslington, the Corpus Christi Carmelite sisters from Lawrence Street, members of the Carmelite Third Order who are part of York Carmelite Spirituality Group, and the Discalced Carmelite nuns from Thicket Priory (where Keith Jones led a Quiet Day just a few weeks ago).

During his sermon the Dean reflected on his first calling to ministry within the Church of England, and the vital role of Christian communities - whether parishes, cathedrals or religious communities - in offering the hope and Good News of Jesus Christ, which he said our society needs so desperately to hear. Keith Jones drew special attention to the Carmelites present, saying that religious orders have a particular wisdom to share with people today.

After Evensong the congregation was invited to a reception in the Minster's beautiful Chapter House. This was an opportunity for people from the city of York and surrounding area to express their thanks to Keith Jones for his ministry and presence. Among those attending the reception were the Minster's College of Canons, the Lord Mayor of York and his consort, the Sheriff of Yorkshire and his Lady, leading academics from the University of York and York St John University, the Minster Choir School, and a host of other well-wishers including religious from other Catholic communities in York.


The Dean of York is assisted in the running of the Minster by some 400 members of staff, clergy and volunteers. A member of the Minster Chapter (its governing body), the Canon Chancellor, Reverend Glyn Webster, welcomed those present, and invited certain groups to express their good wishes to the Dean.

A Lay Carmelite who runs the British Province's Projects & Publications Office in York, Johan Bergström-Allen, spoke as Chair of Churches Together in York. He thanked Keith Jones for his great work in fostering ecumenical relations between Christians in York, saying: "The Dean has always acted with warmth, humour and humanity, seeing the Minster as a place that welcomes all people from across the Christian spectrum, who regard this place as home. I fondly recall the visit of the relics of Saint Thérèse to York Minster in 2009, the first time that they had been brought to an Anglican place of worship. Some 10,000 pilgrims came here to pray alongside the relics, but we also had some protestors who believed that the event compromised the cathedral's Protestant credentials. As the relics were leaving the Minster various protestors were waving placards outside. Keith turned to me and commented that the protestors had the right to be here, just as Catholics and others had the right to be here. Then he added, "Isn't it wonderful how Thérèse and the communion of saints have brought everybody together!" We shall miss you Keith, but we wish you and your wife Viola every happiness and blessing in the future."

The final presentation was that made by the Carmelite Order. The prior of the Carmelite friars in York, Fr Antony Lester, O.Carm., representing the Prior Provincial of the British Province expressed a word of thanks on behalf of the Carmelites, recalling the various special events that the Order has been able to hold in the Minster thanks to the Dean and Chapter's hospitality. He passed on the good wishes of the Prior Provincial of the British Province, Fr Wilfrid McGreal, O.Carm., who unfortunately could not be present due to meetings he is attending in Rome.

Father Antony explained that since the Middle Ages the Carmelite Order has issued 'Letters of Fraternity' to people who have assisted the Carmelite Order in a special way. He said that this granting of spiritual affinity with the Order is an honour rarely given, and never has it been given before to an Anglican clergyman, but the Order felt that Keith Jones' support of Carmelite spirituality and ecumenical dialogue merited being marked in this way.

Father Antony then read a letter sent specially for the occasion by the Prior General of the Carmelite Order, Most Rev Fr Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm.

In his letter the Prior General said: "On the recommendation and at the request of the Prior Provincial of the British Province, Father Wilfrid McGreal, I am delighted to affiliate you spiritually to the Carmelite Order and to send you these Letters of Fraternity as a sign of the spiritual bond that now exists.

"Your work in welcoming the relics of St Thérèse in 2009, as well as your ongoing hospitality in allowing our friars to use the Minster on many occasions, is a true sign of the excellent ecumenical relations which we enjoy.

"It is my hope that through this affiliation we may continue to grow in friendship and Christian fellowship. I am very pleased that we can recognize your contribution in this significant way.

"You will see from the Letter that you now enjoy the spiritual benefits of all the prayers of the Order. This is not a one-way process and therefore I would ask you to continue to pray for the Order around the world, especially in those areas where there are many needs.

"May I also wish you and your wife, Viola, every blessing and happiness in your retirement. If you are ever in Rome may I extend an invitation to visit our Curia house."

The Letters of Fraternity, which had been specially framed, were then carried forward by members of the Carmelite Family. The Letters were presented jointly by a Lay Carmelite, a Corpus Christi Carmelite Sister, and a Discalced Carmelite Nun to reflect the special relationship Keith Jones has had with each branch of the Carmelite Family in York.

The Dean, who was unaware that he was going to receive the Letters of Fraternity, was visibly moved, and spoke afterwards with the Carmelites about how much this gesture meant to him. Many of the Minster staff present spoke of how significant they knew this gesture was, and Christians of different denominations described it as a sign of real ecumenical collaboration and recognition.

Source: Carmelite Projects & Publications