Bar Convent Museum...

The Bar Convent Museum includes the Victorian Entrance Hall, the ground floor and first floor galleries of the museum, the Parlour and also the chapel.

The museum galleries outline the early history of Christianity in the North of England and tell the story of Mary Ward, foundress of a religious congregation formerly known as the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary and now renamed the Congregation of Jesus.

Mary Ward was a pioneer both of women's education and apostolic religious orders for women. Her fascinating life story is told in a series of 50 pictures, which are reproduced in the Museum. They illustrate her search for a way to serve God, the Church and her countrymen and women, in a period of religious persecution and wars in Europe. Mary Ward died in 1645, but after her death her companions continued her work.

A 45 minute video (narrated by Dame Judi Dench) at the entrance to the museum covers the history of the Bar Convent and introduces the collections.

The ground floor displays tell the history of the turbulent recusant period from Henry VIII to the repeal of the Penal Laws in 1777, including the story of the York martyr, Margaret Clitherow. The displays include recusant artefacts such as a "pedlar's vestment" used by itinerant priests and a secret alter disguised as a bedstead. There are also other items and stories about martyrdom and persecution concerning famous local martyrs such as Margaret Clitherow and conspirators such as Guy Fawkes.

The upstairs Gallery hosts a static exhibition of religious artefacts, vestments, paintings and items from the convent's history as a school. The displays include a dolls house replica of the convent in the Regency period, made by Sr Gregory Kirkus, and a copy of the Crucifixion by Eustache Le Soeur (1616/17:1665), which was sold to the National Gallery in 1994.

The architectural design and development of the beautiful neoclassical Chapel and the Georgian school buildings are also outlined in the Museum and further information about the history of the building can be found by clicking here.

The Jubilee 400 Heritage Project has been set up by the Trustees and the CJ Community in York to raise £500,000 between January 2009 and January 2011 to enable the Bar Convent Trust to restore and preserve the historical and architectural integrity of the building currently used as the ‘Museum', and to create a "centre of living heritage".  You can find out more by clicking here or you can make a donation to the project by clicking here.

Admission to the Museum & the Gallery

Admission to the Museum and Gallery is FREE for everyone until January 2010.

Concessions are FREE at all times.

Concessions include senior citizens, children under 16 years of age, Students with valid student card, Friends of the Bar Convent, residents of the Bar Convent Guest House or delegates using the meeting rooms.

Guided Group Tours can be arranged Monday to Friday between 10:00am and 3:30pm. Please click here to find out more about the Tour Packages available for your group and use the Group Tours Booking Form to advise us of your visit or call reception on 01904 643238. All tours must be booked in advance please.

The Museum is closed Bank Holidays, throughout Easter and 20 December - 3 January.