The Carmelite Order has granted its highest honour to the Dean of York on the occasion of his retirement. On Sunday 29th April, members of the Carmelite Family in the northern English city of York, on behalf of the Prior General in Rome, presented ‘Letters of Fraternity’ to Very Reverend Keith Jones. It is the first time that such ‘honorary membership’ of the Carmelite Order has been given to someone who is not a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
As Dean of York since 2004, Keith Jones has welcomed all people of good will to make use of the Minster and its facilities. Though an Anglican place of worship since the Protestant Reformation, York Minster today welcomes Christians of every denomination. The Dean has been particularly hospitable and friendly to the Carmelite Order, which has held large liturgies and small pilgrimages in the cathedral in recent years. Keith Jones has spoken to York Carmelite Spirituality Group about St Thérèse of Lisieux to whom he has a strong personal devotion, and under his leadership the Minster has collaborated with the Carmelites and other ecumenical partners in co-sponsoring the Ebor Lectures on Theology and Public Life.
On 29th April, the Dean presided at his final celebration of Evensong in the quire of the Minster. Among the hundreds of worshippers present were members of York’s four Carmelite communities: the Carmelite friars from Heslington, the Corpus Christi Carmelite sisters from Lawrence Street, members of the Carmelite Third Order who are part of York Carmelite Spirituality Group, and the Discalced Carmelite nuns from Thicket Priory.
During his sermon, the Dean reflected on his first calling to ministry within the Church of England, and the vital role of Christian communities – whether parishes, cathedrals or religious communities – in offering the hope and Good News of Jesus Christ, which he said our society needs so desperately to hear. Keith Jones drew special attention to the Carmelites present, saying that religious orders have a particular wisdom to share with people today.
After Evensong, the congregation was invited to a reception in the Minster’s beautiful Chapter House. This was an opportunity for people from the city of York and surrounding area to express their thanks to Keith Jones for his ministry and presence.
A Lay Carmelite who runs the British Province’s Projects & Publications Office in York, Johan Bergström-Allen, spoke as Chair of Churches Together in York. He thanked Keith Jones for his great work in fostering ecumenical relations between Christians in York, saying:
“The Dean has always acted with warmth, humour and humanity, seeing the Minster as a place that welcomes all people from across the Christian spectrum, who regard this place as home. I fondly recall the visit of the relics of St Thérèse to York Minster in 2009, the first time that they had been brought to an Anglican place of worship. Some 10,000 pilgrims came here to pray alongside the relics, but we also had some protestors who believed that the event compromised the cathedral’s Protestant credentials. As the relics were leaving the Minster various protestors were waving placards outside. Keith turned to me and commented that the protestors had the right to be here, just as Catholics and others had the right to be here. Then he added, “Isn’t it wonderful how Thérèse and the communion of saints have brought everybody together!” We shall miss you Keith, but we wish you and your wife Viola every happiness and blessing in the future.”
The final presentation was that made by the Carmelite Order. The prior of the Carmelite friars in York, Father Antony Lester OCarm, representing the Prior Provincial of the British Province, expressed a word of thanks on behalf of the Carmelites, recalling the various special events that the Order has been able to hold in the Minster thanks to the Dean and Chapter’s hospitality. He passed on the good wishes of the Prior Provincial of the British Province, Father Wilfrid McGreal OCarm, who unfortunately could not be present due to meetings he is attending in Rome.
Father Antony explained that since the Middle Ages, the Carmelite Order has issued ‘Letters of Fraternity’ to people who have assisted the Carmelite Order in a special way. He said that this granting of spiritual affinity with the Order is an honour rarely given, and never has it been given before to an Anglican clergyman, but the Order felt that Keith Jones’ support of Carmelite spirituality and ecumenical dialogue merited being marked in this way. Father Antony then read a letter sent specially for the occasion by the Prior General (senior brother) of the Carmelite Order, Most Reverend Father Fernando Millán Romeral OCarm.
The Letters of Fraternity, which had been specially framed, were then carried forward by members of the Carmelite Family. The Letters were presented jointly by a Lay Carmelite, a Corpus Christi Carmelite Sister, and a Discalced Carmelite Nun to reflect the special relationship Keith Jones has had with each branch of the Carmelite Family in York. The Dean, who was unaware that he was going to receive the Letters of Fraternity, was visibly moved, and spoke afterwards with the Carmelites about how much this gesture meant to him.