Minster Monuments Audit Church of England, Diocese of Leeds
A unique NLHF-funded placement opportunity to gain hands-on research and conservation experience by working closely with the nationally significant sculptural monument collections of Leeds Minster and Halifax Minster in the Anglican Diocese of Leeds.
Applications for 2025/26 are open until Wednesday 4 March 2026, 5pm GMT
The Cathedral and Church Buildings Department is seeking applications, for four art history students to work on a special project surveying the rich and varied collection of stone monuments at Leeds and Halifax Minster in the Church of England, Diocese of Leeds.
These monuments cover a range of periods from medieval to modern. Some monuments are the work of renowned national and international sculptors, but many are testament to the talents and ingenuity of local sculptors and craftsmen. Each of these monuments has its own story to tell, many of which have been lost to the passage of time and material deterioration.
During this placement, you will help to recover some of these lost stories through art historical research and interpretation. You will work on site alongside four conservation students under the supervision of two experienced and accredited conservators, Dr David Carrington ACR and Jane Cowan ACR, developing key skills to help you assess the material condition of the monuments.
You will learn about the practical construction of monuments and the many challenges which affect their conservation in church environments. You will also conduct essential background and archival research under the supervision of Dr Gemma Shearwood to understand the monuments in their historical context and find new interpretations which elevate marginalised or underrepresented voices.
For further information, please refer to the Minster Monuments Audit Church of England, Diocese of Leeds application pack (PDF 
, 224kb).
Minster Monuments Audit Church of England, Diocese of Leeds contact details
Marjorie Coughlan
histart-placements@york.ac.uk
Eligibility
Open to International (including EU), International (non-EU) and UK (home) students.
Open to students in the Department of History of Art.
For a list of requirements, refer to the Minster Monuments Audit Church of England, Diocese of Leeds application pack (PDF , 224kb)
How to apply
Application deadline: Wednesday 4 March 2026, 5pm GMT
This studentship welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and there is no requirement for you to practise the Anglican faith. However, you must be comfortable working in the context of a living church where religious services may be taking place.
To apply, please submit a copy of your CV and a cover letter of no more than 850 words explaining why you are interested in this placement and why you are suitable for the role.
These should be submitted as Word documents or PDF files labelled surname_name_CV and surname_name_Cover_Letter via email from your University of York account to tracy.manning@churchofengland.org with the subject line LMMA Studentship Application.
How we allocate
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interviews (exact date TBC). You will be required to prepare a short interview task.
Successful candidates will be notified by 15 April 2026.
Terms and conditions
Please note that during the placement it may be necessary to handle materials relating to contested histories or registered war memorials. You must be comfortable discussing these topics and sensitive to their pastoral implications.
Students will be based at Leeds Minster or Halifax Minster for four weeks between 15 June 2026 and 10 July 2026. Accommodation will be provided. For the rest of the placement, until 24 July 2026, the student will work remotely.
Applications will be processed and read by Church of England/Diocese of Leeds staff and details will not be shared beyond the remit of the project.
For full terms and conditions, please refer to the Minster Monuments Audit Church of England, Diocese of Leeds application pack (PDF , 224kb).