York Minster Cathedral

York Minster Cathedral
Address: York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
Phone: +44 (0)1904 557200
Website: https://yorkminster.org

York Minster, more formally known as Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, is the second-largest Gothic cathedral of Northern Europe and clearly illustrates the development of English Gothic architecture from Early English through to the Perpendicular Period. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the third-highest office of the Church of England. It is known for its stained glass windows–some of which date back to the 12th century. The cathedral also displays the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world–the Great East Window over the Lady Chapel on the east end.

The title “minster” dates back to the end of the 6th century when Christian missionaries came to convert Saxon England. They built churches that were houses of worship and also places where the priests could reside, called “monasteries” and then later “minsters” in Old English. There has been a Christian presence at this site going all the way back to Roman times, with the first recorded church being build in the 7th century. The gothic structure was started in the 13th century, at the behest of the archbishop Walter de Gray.

Visiting the cathedral requires an admission ticket, which can be purchased online to avoid waiting in line. Any person wishing to pray or worship in the cathedral may enter for free, as can children accompanied by a paying adult. A ticket may be purchased for entrance into the cathedral and museum only or, for 5$ more, one may visit one of the church towers as well. Tours run Monday to Saturday between 10am and 3pm and, on weekdays starting at 1:30pm, there is a specialized tour that gives more detailed information about the cathedral’s stained glass windows.