New Southwell Minster name survey withdrawn from Twitter and Facebook accounts

A survey asking for views on changing the name of Southwell Minster has been withdrawn.

It was put on the minster’s Twitter and Facebook accounts on Monday.

By Tuesday the posts and the survey had been removed ­— but not before many people had expressed their shock, upset and anger at the whole idea of a change of name.

In the introduction to the survey, the Dean of Southwell, the Very Rev Nicola Sullivan, had said: “We need your help in potentially selecting a new name for Southwell Minster.”

The survey had been due to close at midnight on Sunday, December 20.

It had listed four names for people to rank in order of preference.

They were: Southwell Minster Cathedral, Nottingham; Southwell Minster, the Cathedral Church of Nottingham; Southwell Cathedral, Nottingham; Southwell Minster Cathedral, serving the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

Yesterday the Dean said: “We are undertaking a far-reaching project at Southwell Minster supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other donors to repair and conserve the internationally-renowned Leaves of Southwell in the Chapter House

“As part of this we are looking at how we can widen our reach and engagement with visitors and worshippers both close to home and further afield. One thing we wanted to consider is the impact of presenting our status as one of England’s 42 cathedrals more explicitly.

“As part of this work, a questionnaire was released prematurely before being agreed with us.

“It was done with the best intentions of including the community to inform a collective way forward for the minster, but contained errors in the way it was presented and the names put forward.

“We would like to thank those who have taken the time to respond and comment as we take the views of our community very seriously.

“We want to reassure those of you who have raised concerns that we will always respect the heritage of Southwell Minster and the emotional and spiritual attachment many of us have to this wonderful place of worship which serves as the Cathedral for the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

“We will now take time to consider our next steps.”