'We surround him with our love and prayers': Tributes paid to former York Minister Chamberlain and distinguished composer Richard Shephard MBE following his death aged 71

Dr Shephard is also a former head of The Minster School and worked for the York Minister Fund.

He was influential in helping to secure over £10m for the restoration of the Minster's Great East Window.

Prayers were said at York Minster today for Dr Shephard, a Lay Canon, following his death on Saturday.

Speaking to the Minster community on the 10am Zoom service, The Rev Michael Smith, Canon Pastor at York Minster, said: “I am sorry to say that Richard Shephard, who most of you will know, died yesterday.

"He had been very ill for some time. He has been a part of the Minster Community for well over 30 years.

"He was Headmaster of the Minster School for many years, then he worked for the York Minster Fund and helped to raise well over £10,000,000 for the Great East Window amongst much else.

"He has sung in the choir and was Chamberlain for many years helping to lead Choral Evensong each day. In recent years he has been a member of Chapter.

“He was also a prolific composer of church music and is internationally renowned for that.

"He loved York Minster, his home is covered with paintings of it he collected over many years.

"We will miss him. We surround him with our love and prayers today and give thanks for his creativity, loyalty, friendship, humour and humanity."

The Dean of York, the Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost led prayers for Dr Shephard at the 11am service and there were also prayers for Dr Shephard during the Evensong service.

Dr Shephard studied music at Cambridge University and was director of music and deputy head of Salisbury Cathedral School before moving to York.

In an interview with the Yorkshire Post in 2012 shortly after he was awarded the MBE for services the music and education, Dr Shephard said: “It is an extreme privilege to work here – it is one of those things you never get used to really.

“I consider myself very lucky to be able to work in such an extraordinary building.”

Dr Shephard was appointed Chamberlain in 2004 with responsibility for raising funds for the upkeep of the building.

The task of maintaining the building, which was built in its current form in the 12th century, is something Dr Shephard likened to Yorkshire’s equivalent of the never-ending painting of the Forth Bridge.

He said: “It is one of those things that just keeps going.”

“But it is the people of York and Yorkshire and further afield who have really made all of this possible.”

Dr Shephard was credited as a driving force behind outreach and partnership working that benefited many thousands of children and young people throughout the North and beyond.

He helped establish the department’s choir schools scholarship scheme in the 1990s and was chairman and then treasurer of the National Choir Schools’ Association.

He also regularly assisted with local music groups, and in 2000 composed the score for the Millennium Mystery Plays.

News of his death was announced on Twitter by York Minster Choir, which tweeted: "RIP Dr Richard Shephard MBE. Variously composer, headmaster, fundraiser, member of chapter, trustee, educationalist. And friend of @YorkMinChoir."

Robert Sharpe, Director of Music at York Minster, tweeted: "A great support, adviser, and wise counsel. RIP Richard Shephard."

Former City of York council leader Steve Galloway tweeted: "A former school head, Richard dedicated his later years to the York Minster Fund, raising literally millions to secure the fabric of York's most iconic building. One of the nicest people that I ever met. RIP."

Other tributes included: "Farewell to Richard, one of York's great characters and a world-famous composer."

He had an international reputation as a composer of church music, with his choral works sung extensively around the world.

Dr Shephard he also wrote operas, musicals and music for television, and his compositions were broadcast frequently.

He served on the Archbishops’ Commission on Cathedrals and on the Church Music Commission on Cathedrals and was a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music.

In 2015, the Minster paid tribute to him in his retirement by immortalising him as a grotesque on the cathedral’s East End.

The grotesque was holding a doctorate hat, and holding its hand as if conducting music.