York Minster: Iconic window at risk of cracking "due to climate change"
One of the most celebrated pieces of stained glass not only in Yorkshire but in the country is at risk fromclimate change, experts have warned.
Some £1.4m is needed to protect the Rose Window in York Minster, alongside the rest of its renowned stained glass collection.
Last year a survey of the Rose Window, which was restored after the Minster fire of 1984, showed it faces climate change damage as it is particularly vulnerable to UV radiation, as well as infrared rays.
These environmental pressures are accelerating stone decay, damaging painted surfaces, and causing the gradual failure of historic materials, experts have warned. After the Minster fire, caused by a lightening strike, the Rose Window suffered approximately 40,000 cracks across its 73 panels as temperatures rose to around 450 degrees celsius.
A restoration project was then undertaken by the York Glaziers Trust, but a new survey in 2025 revealed the window is at risk once again.
A fundraising appeal to protect the Window was launched on Saturday to mark Yorkshire Day to raise the funds needed for the restoration.
Teams from York Minster's Centre for Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management are working alongside The York Glaziers Trust to deliver a major programme of conservation.
The medieval stonework and stained glass will be carefully restored by expert conservators, while a new layer of UV- and IR-resistant protective glazing will be installed externally, creating a sacrificial barrier between the fragile historic glass and the elements.
Dr Marie Groll, director of York Glaziers Trust, said: “The Rose Window is considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of York Minster's priceless stained-glass collection.
“Whilst the work of my predecessors has held up remarkably well, we can now halt the decay we are seeing today from UV and IR radiation.
“As conservators, we have a duty of care to the Minster, its heritage, and the people of York to ensure this remarkable window continues to stand proudly over our city."