Story
The story of York Minster
The east window in front of you is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world, showing the Last Judgment. York Minster has kept most of its medieval glass, which is rare among European churches. A church stood on this site as early as 627, and the title 'minster' dates from Anglo-Saxon times, when it meant a missionary teaching church.
The great building you see was built mainly between 1220 and 1472, so it shows three stages of Gothic style: Early English in the north and south transepts, Decorated in the nave and chapter house, and Perpendicular in the eastern arm and central tower. In the north transept, look for the Five Sisters window, five tall lancets each over 53 feet high, filled with silvery-grey glass. The Minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office in the Church of England.
Give your eyes time to adjust to the coloured light.
This story is compiled from Wikipedia and other open sources; dates and numbers are checked against the source. The text is shared under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Source ↗
Hear this story on the spot, in a natural voice
On Sightlore, the story of York Minster is narrated in a natural voice in 5 languages. When you arrive, say "I'm here" and get your passport stamp.
4 more stories from York in the app
More highlights in York
- York city wallsYork has, since Roman times, been defended by walls of one form or another. To this day, substantial portions of the walls remain, and York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England.
- York Castle MuseumThe York Castle Museum is a museum located in York, North Yorkshire, England, on the site of York Castle, which was originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. The museum itself was founded by John L. Kirk in 1938, and is housed in prison buildings which were built on…
- The ShamblesThe Shambles is a historic street in York, England, featuring preserved medieval buildings, some dating to the 14th century.
- Jorvik Viking CentreJorvik Viking Centre is a museum and visitor attraction in York, England, containing lifelike mannequins and life-size dioramas depicting Viking life in the city.