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A Brief History of York Minster
The site of York Minster has been at the centre of England's religious and political history for almost 2000 years. During the Roman occupation of Britain, York was a thriving, well-defended settlement from which the Romans administered the north of England. These military headquarters were some of the earliest known buildings on the Minster site. After the Romans left Britain, the history of York becomes somewhat unclear. In 314, the first Bishop of York was recorded although many historians believe there to have been significant Christian worship in York before this. The first York Minster, a wooden building hastily constructed, was chronicled in the7 th Century by The Venerable Bede.
In 866 the Vikings conquered northern England and York, or Jorvik as the Danes referred to the town, became the capital of a new Viking kingdom. Jorvik rapidly expanded and by 1066 was thought to have had a population of 10,000. After the Norman Conquest, a wooden castle was built in York, however the north of England revolted against the new king in 1069, upon which William sacked the town. A second wooden castle was built to guard against further uprising.
The first Norman Archbishop was consecrated in 1070 and under his guidance the dilapidated remains of the Minster were restored. The Vikings returned to York in 1075, however, and razed the building to the ground. Unpeturbed, the Normans rebuilt the Minster, the remains of which can still be seen today. The current-day Early English Gothic Minster was built gradually from 1220 onwards. Through continuous development over a 250-year period the Minster had evolved into the instantly recognisable landmark that we know today. Yet the Minster is still evolving. Having survived Henry VIII’s Reformation, fears of subsidence and collapse, the might of the Luftwaffe and a number of disastrous fires, York Minster still stands proudly watching over the city below. Careful and painstaking restoration by successive generations have maintained the structure of the building and visitors today can watch their sterling work in keeping York Minster alive for future generations.
The Definition of a ‘Minster’
The full title of York Minster is the somewhat cumbersome ‘Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St. Peter in York'. Perhaps it is not surprising then that the simpler ‘York Minster’ is the term that is in common use. However, through history York Minster is frequently referred to as York Cathedral, and indeed today the Minster performs the role of a Cathedral. This of course raises the question of why York Minster is so called.
The term 'Minster' is believed to derive from the Latin Monasterium and originally referred to a church, not necessarily a monastery, from which priests strode forth to evangelise. This is in contrast to a parish, from which priests are responsible for having the cure of souls.
The term predominated in Saxon England, when the monastic structure was very different to today. As is common with northern dialects of English, the Saxon term was retained in the language through the years and today there are more churches referred to as Minsters in the north of England than there are in the South, a notable exception of course being Westminster Abbey.
It is possible for a Cathedral to be a Minster, as is the case of York Minster, but not all Minsters are Cathedrals. During the 18 th Century the term York Cathedral was more prevalent, particularly in antiquarian and scholarly texts, but the more popular Minster continued in use to this day. | |
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