Beverley Minster

Beverley Minster is a stunning medieval Gothic church, one of the largest parish churches in England and larger than many cathedrals. By tradition, a monastery was founded at a place called Inderawuda in the early 8th C by Bishop John of York, on the present site of Beverley Minster. Bishop John died in 721 and was buried at Beverly; his tomb in the Minster was a place of pilgrimage up until the Reformation and the alleged site of his bones is marked today. Beverley Minster’s second great story concerns Athelstan, first King of England, who stopped by to visit the tomb of St John in 934, on his way to fight an alliance of Scots and Norse at Brunanburgh. He took a banner from the church and won a great victory. Returning after the battle, he granted several privileges to Beverley, including the right of sanctuary. The present Minster dates from 1190, following a devastating fire that destroyed much of the previous building and the town. The Collegiate Church of St. John the Evangelist at Beverley was supressed in 1548, but the church was bought for £100 by townspeople, who raised £120 by pulling down the Chapter House, the adjoining church of St Martin and the charnel house. Extensive refurbishment was undertaken in the 18th century. Highlights today include the choir, the Norman font and 18th C canopy, stained glass and stone Saxon chair.