Recognition in New Year’s Honours for Dee Dyas, Emeritus Professor of the History of Christianity

Posted on Tuesday 30 December 2025

Professor Dyas served for almost 25 years as Director of the Centre for the Study of Christianity & Culture, which she founded in 1999.

She also established the Centre for Pilgrimage Studies. Her research and publications include the history of pilgrimage through the centuries and the influence of Christianity on art, architecture, literature, music, law, community, and social care. 

Professor Dyas, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, has spent many years advising those managing historic churches and cathedrals on strategies and resources to enhance visitor engagement and enjoyment for people from all backgrounds. 

She was Principal Investigator on a large three-year Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project on Pilgrimage and England’s Cathedrals, Past and Present which examined the history and potential of these flagships of the church heritage sector which attract millions of visitors each year.

She was also Principal Investigator on the multidisciplinary 'Covid-19, Churches and Communities' research project (2020-22) which explored the impact of the Covid-related closure of church buildings, and the tens of thousands of support services they host, on the wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Professor Dyas is one of three academics from the University of York who have been recognised in the King’s New Year honours. 

Professor Avtar Matharu, a leading researcher in the Department of Chemistry, has been awarded an MBE in recognition of his services to equality, diversity, and inclusion across the University and wider community. And Professor Brian Ferguson from the Department of Health Sciences has been honoured with an MBE for services to public health research and his work with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery paid tribute to all three recipients.

He said: “These honours reflect the extraordinary expertise and compassion at York, with our academics really making a difference to people’s lives and the world around us.

“Avtar is a tireless bridge-builder across faiths, while Dee’s world-leading research broadens our understanding of the modern resurgence of UK pilgrimage. Brian’s 40-year legacy has helped shape public health policy. It is a privilege to call them colleagues, and as a community we celebrate their well-deserved success.”

Professor Dyas added: ‘I am thrilled that this honour recognises the value of history, heritage, and the Humanities more widely, in an increasingly complex and uncertain world. 

“Without an understanding of where we have come from, we are ill-equipped to manage the challenges of the present or plan for the future. 

“I have been privileged to work with exceptional colleagues at the University of York, as well as scholars across the world and leading practitioners in bodies such as Historic England, the Church of England Church Buildings Division, and the Association of English Cathedrals.”