York Minster

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York Minster, the west front

York Minster

Where is it – England, Yorkshire and the Humber

Who looks after it –  Church authorities 

What is it –  Cathedral 

When is it from – Medieval

York Minster dominates the City of York, literally (it is allegedly the largest church in northern Europe) and spiritually. The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York is the seat of the Archbishop of York, Bishop of the Diocese of York and the second highest cleric in the Church of England after the Archbishop of Canterbury. There has been a church on the same spot since 627AD but the site of York Minster has been built on since at least Roman times. Most of the present building was constructed between 1220 and 1472, restored after damaging fires in the 19th century and, more recently, in 1984.

Highlights include: just standing in the enormous nave; wondering how the beautiful roof of the 800 year old Chapter House holds up; checking out the fifteen medieval kings on the King’s (Quire) Screen; looking at the stained glass. They say that York Minster’s 128 windows hold more than 50% of England’s medieval stained glass – and the 600 year old east window is the largest expanse of medieval glass in the country. The Undercroft Museum includes audio-visual displays and reveals (literally) the history of the Minster since Roman times. It also includes Anglo-Saxon York Gospels (made in Canterbury) and the Viking Horn of Ulf – both over 1,000 years old.

 


Address
Deangate, York, Y01 7HH 

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