Myself and the family went to York for the day yesterday. We started off at the National Rail Museum which is a fantastic place and best of all, it costs nothing to go in. There is loads to do and I know that I wouldn't mind paying to go in. It really is a great place with lots to see and do.

We then caught the road train into town as we all fancied a look round York Minster. We were all stunned to find that we were expected to pay to get in!! It's £4.50 per adult and kids get in free as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult. Like us, lots of people were arriving, seeing the admission charges and deciding not to go in. There was a film crew asking peoples opinions as to the charges and the majority were saying how disgusting it was. The 'powers that be' say it's because they receive no Government funding or funding from elsewhere towards to maintainance of the building and if people want it to stay in decent condition they shoudl pay for it.

My point is, we had just spent the entire morning having fun at the Rail Museum and it didn't cost a penny. Surely they have overheads? Yes, I guess they do get funding from somewhere to keep going but how on earth can anyone justify paying £4.50 to look round a church? Yes, it is an incredibly beautiful building and part of our national heritage but when push comes to shove, it's a church, a public building and I really don't feel it is fair to expect people to pay to look round. Maybe ask for donations yes but I for one wasn't going to pay £9.00 for us to look round a church.

I dunno the figures on something like this but just some wild assed guessing..

1. Churches like the minster are nororiously old, uninsulated and very maintenance intensive buildings.

2. They really don't get anything from anyone, least of all the government to pay for the work..

3. Fewer people are going to church to actually practice religion

4. They've got literally thousands of people wanting to go in and look, adding to the cost of heating, maintenance and of course staffing (security for their treasures, religious artifacts, etc...)

Personally I don't see how they can not charge.. and as for the actual charge level itself, well I doubt they'd set it that high unless they needed to but we may never know...


Ultimately the choice has surely got to be either they charge or they close their doors, let the places run down and then force their parisioners out into other places... Not exactly an option they'd even consider I'm sure...


Just my thrupenny bits worth anyways.

I went to York not long ago and I've always liked it but I didn't pay to go in the Minster. There is also that building on the top of the hill that you have to pay to get inside which I think should be free.

I wasn't aware that the Railway museum was free either, I am sure I've paid in the past to enter.

Last time I paid to go into a church was when I got married, £37.50. So, in answer to your question, I won't be paying to go into a church anytime in the near future. Plus, having just come back from Italy (have I mentioned that yet?) and seen some of the art which is freely available in their churches £4.50 is a definite no no.

According to the news last night they only raised £300k against the expected £600k since they started charging so you can probably expect the price to go up to cover the shortfall.

Well just as soon as the Church puts its own house in order, and relinquishes some of the priceless artwork, etc, that it has in bank vaults and actually pays its way... then sad to say, I won't be going any time soon either.

The church's of the world are richer than any corporation. It's about time they practiced what they preach - literally!

All Museums are now free entry, so stuff like the NRM, the National telly Museum in Bradford, Royal Armouries in Leeds etc you can now get into for nowt.

When I went it was free to look round the church, but there were bits of it you had to pay if you wanted to see them eg. A tour on the roof, looking at the foundations, etc.

I'm surprised they are charging just to get in the place, it is after all first and foremost a place of worship.

Nomme

Originally posted by Lickszz
There is also that building on the top of the hill that you have to pay to get inside which I think should be free.


That's Clifford's Keep. where hundreds of Jews were murdered.

Originally posted by mojoworking
That's Clifford's Keep. where hundreds of Jews were murdered. I thought it was assisted suicide?

Originally posted by Tony
I thought it was assisted suicide?

What, they killed each other? You may be correct. But I think I'm correct in saying they were chased through the town and sought refuge in the tower?

... and with nowhere left to go, and no hope ... committed suicide .. assisted by the elders who were the last to die.

Please feel free to correct me if I've got it wrong.

http://www.cliffordstower.com/

"Clifford's Tower was the scene of what was perhaps one of the most terrible events in York's history. In 1190 the Jews of York sought refuge there after being attacked by a local mob. They were given the choice of being either baptised or killed, but they took a third option and committed mass suicide. At this time the tower was built of timber and so burned to the ground. It was rebuilt in stone.
"

As defender of the faith shouldn't Queenie be dipping into her capacious back pocket to pay for the upkeep of the Minster?

Funny that I seem to be the only one defending the practice but hey...

On the note of all those free places (museums and the like)... erm.. there's no such thing.. someone somewhere is footing the bill and chances are it's coming out of taxes, lottery funds or whatever but it's being paid for somehow...

As for the place of worship aspect, during services entry is free and I couldn't be sure but if you turned up minus camera and bits and asked for entry to pray I doubt you'd get turned away...

Originally posted by Rich
All Museums are now free entry, so stuff like the NRM, the National telly Museum in Bradford, Royal Armouries in Leeds etc you can now get into for nowt.

How long as this be in force Rich? I ask because I have in the past reluctantly paid for admission at NRM and Bradford Film and Photography museum.

I can see the need for admission charges levied on tourists, but £4.50 is too much.

£2.00 per head for adults plus 50p for kids over ten would probably be less discouraging and generate more income.

The fee was only introduced at York Minster earlier this year (or maybe late last year - i can't remember). I have never paid (I come from York) but I expect many do. At first I thought it was ridiculous but you can look at it from another point of view.

The Minster costs a lot of money to keep up - there has been scaffolding on it for as long as I remember, plus other costs.

Most tourists (especially international ones) wouldn't think anything odd about paying to get into such a building - I have had to pay to go inside various churches/cathedrals elsewhere. La Sagrada Familia I think costs more than £4.50.

When I was young the NRM was free to York residents, being free for all is great - as it is with all those other museums. It means being a tourist in the UK is cheaper than a lot of other places - notably if you like art galleries.

Originally posted by Lickszz
How long as this be in force Rich? I ask because I have in the past reluctantly paid for admission at NRM and Bradford Film and Photography museum.

And I paid £6 to get into the museum adjacent to Clifford's Tower in York not too long ago.

I'm sure the National Museum of Film, Photography and TV used to be free when I was younger.

It is only National museums that are free which is probably why you'd have to pay to get in the Castle Museum in York (also free for York residents- at least it used to be)

Cliffords tower is managed by English Heritage so if you are a member you get in free. Here (http://accessibility.english-heritage.org.uk/filestore/VisitsEvents/asp/visits/Details.asp?Property_Id=366&js=yes) is more info should you require it.

They did start doing an entry fee on Lincoln cathedral quite a few years ago, which was a suggested donation, and they had someone watching to see if you put anything in. I did but not the £5/8 (i can't remember how much it was) suggested,if that had been a forced pay on entry i would not have gone i, as would the people with me not gone in. Would the church not rather have people come in and appreciate the place and give some money than people not bother. I thought the church never turned anyone away?

I was taken to Lincoln Cathedral and York Minster many times as a child (donations given) and remember it being a great place to go, so i still try and go back everytime i go to Lincoln and to York, but if parents refuse to pay this enforced entry fee then they will not take their children and they will not take their's in the future and then they these building will go to ruin. It is good to go in and do the extra guided tours of the cathedrals you get to go places that are amazing and these tours should be charged for.

Originally posted by Jayne
I'm sure the National Museum of Film, Photography and TV used to be free when I was younger.

It is only National museums that are free which is probably why you'd have to pay to get in the Castle Museum in York (also free for York residents- at least it used to be)

National Museum of Film and Telly still is free.

I went up there last year and it didn't cost me a tap to get in, they make their money by ripping you off in the canteen and charging extortionate prices for souvenirs etc.

Originally posted by Rich
National Museum of Film and Telly still is free.

I went up there last year and it didn't cost me a tap to get in, they make their money by ripping you off in the canteen and charging extortionate prices for souvenirs etc.

They do charge you to get into the 3D cinema bit though, which is the best bit.

Originally posted by Jayne
Most tourists (especially international ones) wouldn't think anything odd about paying to get into such a building - I have had to pay to go inside various churches/cathedrals elsewhere. La Sagrada Familia I think costs more than £4.50.

You picked an odd church to use as an example there. The reason they charge to go in is because it is still being built and the entry fee goes towards the cost of construction, not re-construction.

Did you see the gargoyle modelled on Richard Branson whilst you were there?

I know if wasn't the best was it - I didn't go in in the end (partially as it was really expensive and partially as I didn't have much time).

Better examples are St Pauls and Westminster Abbey.

It is possible to go to York Minster without paying - I went to Midnight Eucharist. I also once questioned David Blunkett about is policy on tuition fees there!

We visited York last year. I took my American husband who loved all the English history and heritage. But we went in York Minster and saw the price. He was appalled that we would have to pay to go in a church. I told him it goes towards the upkeep of the church and grounds and keeping it looking good. But what a tourist trap. We stood in the doorway and listened to the choir. He looked around and videoed the entrance and down towards the front of the church. It was awe inspiring with the choir singing. But 4 pounds 50 to get in (sorry my typewriter doesn't have a pound sign) He said that was good enough for him and we left. It was draughty too standing at the door and he said he felt the rush of God through him. I said it was just bloody freezing and we should leave before we were kicked out for not paying.
Typical tourists!!

Originally posted by Funke88
But 4 pounds 50 to get in (sorry my typewriter doesn't have a pound sign)

For those without a £ sign on their keyboards (myself included) you can create one by holding down the alt key while typing the numbers 1 5 6. But it only works if you use the number pad on the right of the keyboard (ie not the number keys along the top). That is only one of 100s of special symbols you can create this way

What about the Euro symbol? ;)

Originally posted by Lickszz
What about the Euro symbol? ;)

To create the € symbol (for keyboards without one) it's: alt 0 1 2 8

(again using the number keypad on the right)

Originally posted by Tony
Well just as soon as the Church puts its own house in order, and relinquishes some of the priceless artwork, etc, that it has in bank vaults and actually pays its way... then sad to say, I won't be going any time soon either.

The church's of the world are richer than any corporation. It's about time they practiced what they preach - literally!
Well said, I was going to say the same thing ! And also, lets spend some of the squillions feeding the starving masses, now that would be a christian thing to do.

You seem to be confusing the church with a spiritual organisation rather than a temporal one!!!

Originally posted by mojoworking
For those without a £ sign on their keyboards (myself included) you can create one by holding down the alt key while typing the numbers 1 5 6. But it only works if you use the number pad on the right of the keyboard (ie not the number keys along the top). That is only one of 100s of special symbols you can create this way

£ £ Good grief, thanks Mojoworking. Didn't think my American keyboard was as that technically advanced as the rest of the world but apparantly so... Hmm, You learn something everyday.

Now back to the topic in hand...

Originally posted by mojoworking
To create the ? symbol (for keyboards without one) it's: alt 0 1 2 8

(again using the number keypad on the right)

ctrl alt 4 works for me also

?

Hmm. I don't think that you should be charged to enter a church. It is afterall a place of worship. Nothing is sacred anymore though.

I was shocked to learn that the employees of the Sheffield Cathedal (not the vicars obviously) arn't even christian. Anyone else think this is wrong?

We called at York Minster and wanted to look round the Church, but when we were told the charge we refused to go in, it is disgracefull to have to pay to go into a house of God.

Did Jesus Christ say you had to pay? no of course not, it should be free to enter and enjoy being in the presence of the Lord, these nincompoops that make up the Church heirarcy, really haven't a clue how to manage the financial side of their affairs.

The Church, is the richest institution in the World and do not need any more money, it is greed and avarice, the thing that Jesus Christ spoke and warned people about in the Sermon on the Mount.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
ctrl alt 4 works for me also

?

Do you mean the Euro symbol? Strangely, that's showing up as a question mark on my screen. I think the key combination you quote only works on UK keyboards.

Originally posted by FetishFairy
Myself and the family went to York for the day yesterday. We started off at the National Rail Museum which is a fantastic place and best of all, it costs nothing to go in. I wouldn't mind paying to go in. It really is a great place with lots to see and do.

My point is, we had just spent the entire morning having fun at the Rail Museum and it didn't cost a penny. Surely they have overheads? Yes, I guess they do get funding from somewhere to keep going but how on earth can anyone justify paying £4.50 to look round a church?

The Railway museum is free to enter as i went last Thursday and what they do not mention is the £5 parking fee.
Still thats still cheaper than the enterance fee as i went about 3 years ago and cost me a small fortune to get in.

I then went to the York Dungeons, and yet again another £4.80 parking fee.
The Dungeons were'nt cheap either but i had a get one adult in get one free, and at least the we got a £2 off token with the parking.
Regarding the Minster its possibly could warrant an enterance fee but make it a quid.
No doubt another £5 quid parking will be added to.

Originally posted by Cycleracer
The Railway museum is free to enter as i went last Thursday and what they do not mention is the £5 parking fee.
Still thats still cheaper than the enterance fee as i went about 3 years ago and cost me a small fortune to get in.

I then went to the York Dungeons, and yet again another £4.80 parking fee.
The Dungeons were'nt cheap either but i had a get one adult in get one free, and at least the we got a £2 off token with the parking.
Regarding the Minster its possibly could warrant an enterance fee but make it a quid.
No doubt another £5 quid parking will be added to.

Why keep moving the car? York is compact enough leave the car in one car park and walk between (nearly) all the main tourist spots

A good point there and yes i could have done that and was, only i had 5 young children with me and they had already walked enough during the heat of the day and not knowing York i did not know how far they were apart.
I did ring the NRM the day before to ask if the Dungeons were close and the guide said OH no, its in the town centre unlike the railway museum is not.
Actually it was about 15 minutes walk and having i known that then maybe.

The one thing York does have is an excellent park and ride system. On my last visit a few months back I parked in a Tesco car park and caught bus into centre. My main purpose was the visit the Dungeons so didn't visit the NRM on that occasion. It was 5 years since I had been in the Dungeons and I didn't enjoy it as much as last time. Got the feeling I was been rushed around and it didn't seem to go into as much depth as my last visit.

I make reference to the park in the centre, which I think is nice.