York Minster
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Venerable History
According to tradition, missionaries arrived in York from Rome in the year 180 AD to sort out religious differences. However, the first Church only dates from 627. It was a wooden structure, thrown up hastily to baptize Edwin, who became King of Northumbria. A stone structure followed a few years later, although within a few decades this had also fallen into disrepair. In 674, a fire destroyed what remained of it, leaving only ashes and broken stones. Records suggest a grander building replaced it with 30 altars commemorating various saints.William the Conqueror
’s armies damaged it in 1069, and Danish invaders destroyed it in 1075. In 1080, Thomas of Bayeaux rebuilt the
remains in Roman style with rounded arches. By the middle 12th-century, the Gothic style with pointed arches was in
vogue, and so the ambitious archbishop, Walter de Gray, ordered it to be torn down and rebuilt to compete with Canterbury Cathedral which was setting an example. The project was completed by 1472,
following structural difficulties involving the tower that took some time to resolve. 
The Reformation
During the Protestant reformation under Queen Elizabeth 1st, much of the church’s treasures were looted in the hope of removing all traces of Roman Catholic tradition. Cromwell’s army laid siege to York in 1644, although his horsemen thankfully did not cause further desecration. All that remained was the structure itself, and decorations beyond reach without scaffolding. The glories of the past were gone forever.Attempts at Restoration
Between 1730 and 1736, there were attempts to restore the building following an easing of oppression of the Anglo-Catholic tradition. This included reflooring it in patterned marble. In 1840, disaster struck when a fire left the nave, the south west tower and the south aisle roofless, blackened shells. Religious services were suspended until 1858 when the damage was repaired.Disaster Strikes Again
In the 1970s, severe cracking developed in the central tower which was in danger of collapsing and bringing the entire building down. Workmen went deep below the foundations. They discovered that some of these were a Roman fort, built on a raft of rotting timbers on a bog. A diver swam through pitch dark mud, laying bags of concrete. He saved the cathedral. All that remains of his work are gigantic steel bolts set in the crypt, and a plaque in his memory.
Main Features of the Building
The pattern continues as you proceed down the nave
. Before the Reformation, the
walls had rich embellishments depicting the Saints. Perhaps the reformers did us a favor when they stripped the detail
away and revealed the architect’s vision, freed from added decoration.Allow time to venerate the altar and the grand organ pipes, before walking beyond to the Chapter House behind. Here are the graves of saints and sinners. This is an opportunity to reflect on the folly of pride, and perhaps to wonder what lies beyond the grave.
The Best Time to Visit
York Minster really only comes to life when you experience its liturgical traditions. This is when the tower resounds to the pealing of bells, and the deep diapason organ pipes cause the floor to vibrate. When you experience this, you partake in the worship of God. If you do not, you miss the point of cathedrals and all you experience is a pile of stones.If You Decide to Go
York Minster is a jewel on the heart of walled, medieval York where the streets are pedestrianized precincts and you have to walk. This is a blessing in
disguise as you see so much more. Plan your visit on a Sunday when a carillon of bells announces a service. Find
somewhere quiet to sit and observe the ancient rituals. Wonder at the sound of voices resounding off the stone ceiling.
This is what cathedrals are all about, and York Minster is a superb example.Do you see any omissions, errors or want to add information to this page? Sign up.
Author: robric. Last updated: Mar 03, 2016
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