York Minster: The Hidden Story

The Dean of York – Keith Jones

Keith Jones was born and brought up in Shropshire of a family that originated in mid Wales.  He read English at Selwyn College, Cambridge and then stayed on there to study theology before going to Cuddesdon College, Oxford. He was ordained in Southwark Cathedral and served a curacy in the Surrey countryside, where among other things he looked after a chapter of Hells Angels.

His first cathedral experience was on the staff of St. Albans, and he then went to work on the large overspill estate on the edge of London where Eastenders is produced. He was for some years the vicar of the civic church of Ipswich in Suffolk, and chaplain to the Wolsey Theatre (another enthusiasm).  He became dean of Exeter in 1996 and dean of York in 2004.

In his position as the Dean of York, Keith Jones reveals the drama and complexity of a unique institution in its daily activity.  He explains the oddity and the genius of it, the remarkable people who are part of its life, and explains why there is still a place for cathedrals in the life of modern Britain.  He also describes the balancing act of running a holy place which is also a major tourist attraction, and the extraordinary and hilarious things that go on behind the scenes.