Video: God's back in his Minster as £20m York restoration completed

Work on the mammoth project, which has included the painstaking conservation of the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the country, began 12 years ago, but it received a major boost in 2011 when the cathedral secured £10.5m of Heritage Lottery Funding.

The Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, who has been the Dean of York since 2012, said: “All I have ever known is the East Front wrapped in scaffolding, so it has been wonderful to see it come down. During evening services we have been able to see the moon for the first time in years and the clarity of the stained glass really is something.

“So many people have invested a huge amount in the restoration, but I will never forget the moment when a couple of the glaziers knocked at my door and told me, ‘God was back in the Minster’. I wasn’t quite sure how to respond until I realised they were referring to the top section of the Great East Window, which features an image of God.

“With a cathedral like this, there will always work to be done, but this was such a huge undertaking in such a central part of the Minster that it does feel like we have got a piece of our home back.”

The HLF money was used to launch the York Minster Revealed project, which as well as funding the restoration of dozens of intricate glass panels in the 600-year-old Great East Window has also seen the Minster’s underground chambers turned into a new tourist attraction.

The Very Rev Faull added: “This has always been about preserving one of the country’s most historic buildings, but it has also allowed our team of expert craftsmen to try out some really groundbreaking techniques.

“The window is now protected by a revolutionary new glass and the there is now a recognition that when it comes to these ancient buildings it’s the local teams on the ground who often know best.”

Working alongside the glaziers has been the Minster stonemasons who together have replaced and repaired 2,500 individual stone blocks.

Master stonemason John David, who was part of the team who helped rebuild the South Transept following the devastating 1984 fire, said: “The East Front had been restored in the 1800s and again in the 1900s, but some of that work had been carried out with inferior stone.

“It is a really exposed section of the Minster. Time and the elements had taken their toll and it was in a pretty sorry state.

“Some of the blocks of stones we needed to replace took two months to carve, but if you are going to do it right, a project like this can’t be rushed.”

The completion of the York Minster Revealed project is due to be marked with a special topping out ceremony later today, which will be attended by hundreds of people who have been involved in the restoration.

Mr David added: “The sense of satisfaction when a project comes to an end is always tinged with a little sadness. To see these buildings up close is a real privilege.

“It’s a view that so few people ever get and you know that it is one which won’t be seen again for at least another few generations.”