Welcome to Selby Abbey
Inspiring architecture; sacred space and a vibrant worshipping community make Selby Abbey the place it is today. Men, women and children have worshipped here and served the wider community for over 900 years. Selby is a small Yorkshire town, 12 miles South of York with one of the most superb Abbey churches to be found anywhere in England. The Abbey is not just a building it is a living and vibrant part of the local community yet provides space that allow the visitor and the worshipper alike to find peace, tranquillity and the very presence of God.
Throughout its long and turbulent history, the Abbey has undergone many changes and therefore never stands still. We look forward to welcoming you to this wonderful building and hope you will enjoy it for its history, its architecture and its space but above all for an encounter with God.
Visiting: We are open for all visitors (including sightseeing) from 10.00am to 4.00pm daily and the Gift and Coffee Shop is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm (1.30pm to 3.00pm on Sundays). Visiting may be restricted during service times.
Worship: There are two services of Holy Communion on Sunday and two more during the week and a service of Evensong every Sunday as well as other opportunities for worship at the Abbey from time to time. For more information, please see below under “Services of Public Worship” or for any additions to these, under “Sunday Sheet”.
The 10.00am Sunday Service is usually available to view online. Contact the Abbey Office for the Youtube link.
The “Sunday Sheet” contains a weekly reflection, bible readings and prayers as well as notices about forthcoming events.
We currently have two Staff vacancies, and two Consultancy opportunities for our Selby Abbey: The Origin Stories project – scroll to the bottom of the page for more.
Organ Recital Series 2025
Free lunchtime organ recitals every Tuesday at 12.30pm from 22 July to 26 August, featuring acclaimed cathedral organists.
View full recital programme
Upcoming events in the Abbey
Click the links below to book a ticket for one of our exciting events coming up:
Sound bath Experience
About this event A “Sound bath” is an immersive meditative sound experience. It’s good for the mind and it’s good for the soul. It promotes positive mental health and can […]
Sound bath Experience
A “Sound bath” is an immersive meditative sound experience. It’s good for the mind and it’s good for the soul. It promotes positive mental health and can raise your vibration. […]
The Great Gatsby Ball
Step into the opulence and glamour of the 1920s at The Gatsby Ball! This unforgettable evening brings the Roaring Twenties to life in an enchanting, historic cathedral setting. Don your […]
Donations Welcome
With your donation, we will continue to provide a welcoming, inspiring visitor experience to Selby Abbey. Maintaining free entry to the building, we will be able to develop on our 950 years of spiritual, cultural and economic support to the local community and for those further afield. We receive no direct financial support from the state or central church to preserve our historic building, and are therefore grateful for any donation you may be able to give to keep this magnificent Abbey at the heart of Selby both now and for future generations.
Guided Tours of Selby Abbey
Join one of our guided tours, free of charge, with donations welcome. They will last about 75 minutes and no booking is necessary, simply meet at the West Doors and one of our guides will show you the hidden gems of the Abbey. Dates and times can be found on the link below. Alternatively, you can contact us to book a bespoke tour at a time to suit you. We look forward to welcoming you soon.
Don’t miss one out on attending one of our Tours with our knowledgeable Guides, see the next dates below:
August to September 2025 No booking required – just turn up! (Tours, which last about 75 minutes, are free but donations are invited) Meet your guide at 10.30am inside the […] October to December 2025 No booking required – just turn up! (Tours, which last about 75 minutes, are free but donations are invited) Meet your guide at 10.30am inside the […]Guided Tour of Selby Abbey
Guided Tour of Selby Abbey
What’s New on Our Website
Shop At Selby Abbey Gift Shop
CURRENT VACANCIES: SELBY ABBEY: THE ORIGIN STORIES
Join the team at Selby Abbey and become part of a landmark heritage project to secure the future of this Grade I listed church.
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Type: Fixed term (2 years), 15 hours per week / 0.4 FTE
Salary: £10,800 p.a. (£27,000 pro rata)
Reports to: Operations Manager
Location: Selby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Closing Date: 17:00 Sunday 7th September 2025
Interviews: Week commencing 15th September 2025
The opportunity
Key to the successful delivery of the Origin Stories project will be the expansion of the Abbey’s volunteer team to support future operations and sustainability. The Abbey has a long tradition of volunteering, with a strong and dedicated team of around 100 volunteers undertaking a wide range of activities. This is an opportunity for the successful applicant to attract and recruit new volunteers, to work with an established team to develop its skills, and to introduce new working processes for effective volunteer management.
Purpose of role
To support and improve the management and training of volunteers and support the Operations team. The postholder will work to grow volunteer numbers, improve working processes, and support volunteers to develop confidence and skills. The postholder will work closely with the Operations Manager, the Origin Stories Project Manager, and a voluntary Volunteer Co-ordinator lead (to be appointed) who will work closely with the Operations Manager to build and shape the role post-project.
For the full role description and application form, please download by clicking below:
Community Engagement Co-ordinator
Type: Fixed term (2 years), 22.5 hours per week / 0.6 FTE
Salary: £16,200 p.a. (£27,000 pro rata)
Reports to: Operations Manager
Location: Selby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Closing Date: 17:00 Sunday 7th September 2025
Interviews: Week commencing 15th September 2025
The opportunity
Key to the successful delivery of the Origin Stories project will be the integration of community stakeholders from a range of backgrounds into new activity at the Abbey. The project activity plan outlines multiple opportunities for collaboration and creativity to attract volunteers and new audiences, as well as engaging the Abbey’s existing volunteer team, local schools and other learning groups, youth groups and more.
Purpose of role
To lead on delivering, co-ordinating and reporting on the Origin Stories project community engagement activity. As part of this work, the Community Engagement Co-ordinator will build partnerships with community organisations to support ongoing joint working. They will also build relationships with schools and introduce a new education visit model. The postholder will work closely with the Operations Manager, the Origin Stories Project Manager, and a voluntary Community Engagement lead (to be appointed) who will be in a position to support ongoing community engagement work post-project.
For the full role description and application form, please download by clicking below:
Community Engagement Co-ordinator role description
Application Form – Community Engagement Co-ordinator, Selby Abbey
Selby Abbey: The Origin Stories is recruiting an Evaluation Consultant
and Marketing Consultant to its activities project team.
The deadline for proposals is 17:00 Sunday 28th September. For more information on these opportunities, please download the briefs below.
Evaluation Consultant
Brief:
Selby Abbey is seeking a skilled Evaluation Consultant or consultant team with experience of National Lottery Heritage Fund (Heritage Fund) projects to support us in evaluating the Delivery Phase of our project.
The Evaluation Consultant will be part of our specialist activities project team, working closely with the Project Manager to ensure that all aspects of this project are evaluated throughout its delivery, that lessons learned are embedded through the life of the project, and that outcomes are met for our audiences and stakeholders.
Fee:
The maximum fee for this work is £12,500.00 ex VAT. to include all expenses incurred such as travel
and subsistence.
For the full brief and how to submit a tender for consideration, please download by clicking below:
Marketing Consultant
Brief:
Selby Abbey is seeking a skilled marketing consultant to develop a marketing plan for the duration of the project Delivery Phase to promote events, activities and opportunities at the Abbey to target audiences.
During the project Development Phase, we commissioned a new branding exercise. Selby Abbey now has a new logo and a set of branding guidelines. As part of the project Delivery Phase, we want to embed our new logo and increase awareness of the Abbey through its use in marketing and promotional assets, both digital and physical. We will use our new logo alongside the delivery of a marketing plan that will be designed to reach our target audiences.
During our Development Phase consultation, our visitors told us that it was hard for them to know what was going on at the Abbey as they were not confident negotiating the internet to find information. To address this, we will design and produce flyers and posters that will be targeted in areas of Selby with lower engagement with the Abbey.
The Marketing Consultant will need to understand the needs of different target audience groups, understand barriers to engagement, and develop a marketing plan that will address this.
Fee:
The maximum fee for this work is £7000.00 ex VAT. to include all expenses incurred such as travel and subsistence.
A separate budget is available for the design and production of marketing assets.
For the full brief and how to submit a tender for consideration, please download by clicking below: