Editing York Minster (section)

==History==
A bishop of York was summoned to the [[Council of Arles (314)|Council of Arles in 314]], indicating the presence of a Christian community in York at this time; however, archaeological evidence of Christianity in Roman York is limited.<ref>{{cite book |section=Before the Norman Conquest |title=A History of the County of York: the City of York |editor-first=P. M. |editor-last=Tillott |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |year=1961 |pages=2–24 |via=British History Online |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/city-of-york/pp2-24 |access-date=19 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419023839/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/city-of-york/pp2-24 |archive-date=19 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Roman York|last=Ottaway|first=Patrick|publisher=Tempus|year=2004|pages=136–138|isbn=0-7524-2916-7}}</ref> The first recorded church was a wooden structure built hurriedly in 627 to provide a place to [[baptism|baptise]] [[Edwin of Northumbria|Edwin]], King of [[Northumbria]].  The location of this church, and its pre-1080 successors, is unknown. It was probably in or beside the old Roman ''principia'', (the military headquarters), which may have been used by the king when in residence in York. Archaeological evidence indicates the ''principia'' was located partly beneath the post-1080 Minster site, but excavations undertaken in 1967–73 found no remains of the pre-1080 churches. It can therefore be inferred that Edwin's church, and its immediate successors, was near the current Minster (possibly to the north, underneath the modern [[Dean's Park]])<ref name="auto1">{{cite web | url=https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/1064/area-9-minster-precinct | title=Character area 9: Minster Precinct – Archaeological background | website=www.york.gov.uk | access-date=16 August 2024}}</ref> but not directly on the same site. <ref>{{cite book |section=One York or Several? The city resettled |title=Medieval York: 600–1540 |editor-first=D. M. |editor-last=Palliser |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |year=2014 |pages=43  |isbn=978-0-19-925584-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnNmAgAAQBAJ&dq=alcuin%20alma%20sophia&pg=PT77 |access-date=28 January 2024 }}</ref>

Moves towards a more substantial building began shortly after Edwin's baptism. According to Bede, Edwin set about building a larger church made of stone, intended to enclose the wooden chapel in which he had been baptised.<ref>{{cite book |section=One York or Several? The city resettled |title=Medieval York: 600–1540 |editor-first=D. M. |editor-last=Palliser |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |year=2014 |pages=31–32  |isbn=978-0-19-925584-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnNmAgAAQBAJ&dq=alcuin%20alma%20sophia&pg=PT77 |access-date=28 January 2024 }}</ref> This stone structure was completed in 637 by [[Oswald of Bernicia|Oswald]] and was dedicated to [[Saint Peter]]. The church soon fell into disrepair and was dilapidated by 670 when [[Wilfrid|Saint Wilfrid]] ascended to the [[Episcopal see|See]] of York. He repaired and renewed the structure, installing leaded roofs, glass windows, and rich furnishings.<ref>{{cite book |section=One York or Several? The city resettled |title=Medieval York: 600–1540 |editor-first=D. M. |editor-last=Palliser |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |year=2014 |pages=33–34  |isbn=978-0-19-925584-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnNmAgAAQBAJ&dq=alcuin%20alma%20sophia&pg=PT77 |access-date=28 January 2024 }}</ref> The attached school and library were established and by the 8th century were some of the most substantial in Northern Europe.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Blair |first1=Peter Hunter |title=The World of Bede |date=1990 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0521398190 |page=225 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ku7u03GUIP4C&q=ezra |edition=1970 reprint|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>The most renowned product of the school was [[Alcuin]].</ref>

In 741, the cathedral may have been damaged or destroyed in a fire.<ref name="auto">{{cite book |section=One York or Several? The city resettled |title=Medieval York: 600–1540 |editor-first=D. M. |editor-last=Palliser |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |year=2014 |pages=39  |isbn=978-0-19-925584-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnNmAgAAQBAJ&dq=alcuin%20alma%20sophia&pg=PT77 |access-date=28 January 2024 }}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SnNmAgAAQBAJ&dq=alcuin+alma+sophia&pg=PT81 Evidence of the fire is limited to the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' and the fragmentary ''Northern Annals''. Of these, the ''Chronicle'' briefly reports, under year 741, "York was burnt down." The ''Annals'' give a little more detail, reporting that on 23 April 741 "the ''monasterium'' in the city of York was burnt." Academic opinion is divided on the severity of the fire, and on the identity of the affected ''monasterium''. Besides St Peter's Cathedral, candidates might include the Church of St Gregory, the St Mary Bishophill churches, St Martin’s, and Holy Trinity, Micklegate. ]</ref> Any damage to the cathedral was not long-lasting. Alcuin (who makes no mention of the fire or rebuilding) wrote in detail of the building's wealth and grandeur. In his time, there was a grand altar erected over the place of Edwin's baptism, covered with precious metals and jewels. A spectacular chandelier hung above the altar, and the cathedral possessed a rich and valuable silver cross and golden cruet.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oYviDwAAQBAJ&dq=alcuin+thirty+altars&pg=PA25 | isbn=978-0-227-90083-3 | title=Alcuin: His Life and Legacy | date=29 November 2012 | publisher=James Clarke & Company Limited }}</ref> The cathedral, together with the rest of the city, then passed through the hands of numerous invaders, and its history is obscure until the 10th century. There were a series of [[Benedictine]] [[archbishop]]s, including [[Oswald of Worcester|Saint Oswald of Worcester]], [[Wulfstan (died 1023)|Wulfstan]] and [[Ealdred (archbishop of York)|Ealdred]], who travelled to [[Westminster Abbey|Westminster]] to crown [[William I of England|William the Conqueror]] in 1066. Ealdred died in 1069 and was buried in the cathedral.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://notesfromtheroad.net/bhc/bios/abofy/ealdred.html |title=Britannia Biographies: Ealdred, Archbishop of York |publisher=notesfromtheroad.net |access-date=2 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723230138/http://notesfromtheroad.net/bhc/bios/abofy/ealdred.html |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In January 1069 a rebellion in support of [[Edgar Ætheling]] triggered a brutal crackdown by William. The ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' reports that William's forces "ravaged the town, and made St Peter’s Minster a disgrace". Later in the year, [[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Danish]] invaders supporting the Ætheling sailed up the Humber and Ouse; they attacked the city, in the course of which a fire broke out, burning the cathedral.<ref>{{cite book |section=French Conquest and Lordship |title=Medieval York: 600–1540 |editor-first=D. M. |editor-last=Palliser |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |year=2014 |pages=87–88  |isbn=978-0-19-925584-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnNmAgAAQBAJ&dq=alcuin%20alma%20sophia&pg=PT77 |access-date=28 January 2024 }}</ref> Anything at this point remaining of the cathedral may then have been further damaged by William's [[Harrying of the North]]. The first [[Normans|Norman]] archbishop, [[Thomas of Bayeux]], arriving in 1070, apparently organised repairs, but in 1075, another Danish force sailed up the river, "travelled to York and broke into St Peter’s Minster, and there took much property, and so went away."<ref name="auto2">{{cite book |section=French Conquest and Lordship |title=Medieval York: 600–1540 |editor-first=D. M. |editor-last=Palliser |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |year=2014 |pages=92  |isbn=978-0-19-925584-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnNmAgAAQBAJ&dq=alcuin%20alma%20sophia&pg=PT77 |access-date=28 January 2024 }}</ref> Building of a new cathedral, the Norman Minster, began in 1080, and was completed before Thomas's death in 1100.<ref name="auto2"/> The new cathedral was likely immediately to the south of the old Saxon cathedral, which was probably demolished once the new structure was completed.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>A similar approach was taken in the same period at Winchester.[https://books.google.com/books?id=prETEAAAQBAJ&dq=winchester+old+minster+demolished&pg=PA45]</ref> Built in the [[Norman architecture|Norman]] style, the new cathedral was 364.173&nbsp;ft (111&nbsp;m) long and rendered in white and red lines. The new structure was damaged by fire in 1137 but was soon repaired. The choir and crypt were remodelled in 1154, and a new chapel was built, all in the Norman style.

The [[Gothic architecture|Gothic style]] in cathedrals had arrived in the mid 12th century. [[Walter de Gray]] was made archbishop in 1215 and ordered the construction of a Gothic structure to rival [[Canterbury Cathedral|Canterbury]]; building began in 1220. The north and south transepts were the first new structures; completed in the 1250s, both were built in the Early English Gothic style but had markedly different wall elevations. A substantial [[crossing tower|central tower]] was also completed, with a wooden [[spire]]. Building continued into the 15th century.

The Chapter House was begun in the 1260s and was completed before 1296. The wide nave was constructed from the 1280s on the Norman foundations. The outer roof was completed in the 1330s, but the vaulting was not finished until 1360. Construction then moved on to the eastern arm and chapels; the Norman choir was demolished in the 1390s with the exception of its undercroft of {{circa|1160}}, which was reconstructed to provide a platform for the new high altar.<ref name=":4" /> Work here finished around 1405. In 1407 the central tower collapsed; the piers were then reinforced, and a new tower was built from 1420. The western towers were added between 1433 and 1472. The cathedral was declared complete and [[Consecration|consecrated]] in 1472.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/timeline/medieval/the-medieval-minster |title=The Medieval Minster: History of York |publisher=www.historyofyork.org.uk |access-date=2 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128015806/http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/timeline/medieval/the-medieval-minster |archive-date=28 January 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:York Minster Nave 1, Nth Yorkshire, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|The nave of York Minster]]
The [[English Reformation]] led to the looting of much of the cathedral's treasures and the loss of much of the church lands. Under [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] there was a concerted effort to remove all traces of [[Roman Catholicism]] from the cathedral; there was much destruction of tombs, windows and altars. In the [[English Civil War]] the city was besieged and fell to the forces of [[Oliver Cromwell|Cromwell]] in 1644, but [[Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Baron Fairfax of Cameron|Thomas Fairfax]] prevented any further damage to the cathedral.

[[File:York Cathedral (BM 1958,0124.2).jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Etching by William Martin, brother of arsonist [[Jonathan Martin (arsonist)|Jonathan Martin]] ]]

Following the easing of religious tensions some work was done to restore the cathedral. From 1730 to 1736 the whole floor of the minster was relaid in patterned [[marble]] and from 1802 there was a major restoration. However, on 2 February 1829, an arson attack by [[Jonathan Martin (arsonist)|Jonathan Martin]] inflicted heavy damage on the east arm.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4187649 |title=Jonathan Martin: The Man Who Burned York Minster |work=BBC News |access-date=16 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070530003413/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4187649 |archive-date=30 May 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> An accidental fire in 1840 left the nave, south west tower and south aisle roofless and blackened shells. The cathedral slumped deeply into debt and in the 1850s services were suspended. From 1858 [[Augustus Duncombe]] worked successfully to revive the cathedral. In 1866, there were six residentiary canonries: of which one was the Chancellor's, one the Sub-Dean's, and another annexed to the [[Archdeaconry of York]].<ref>''The Clergy List for 1866'' (London: George Cox, 1866) [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=hIxbAAAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.RA1-PA261 p. 261]</ref>

During the 20th century there was more concerted preservation work, especially following a 1967 survey that revealed the building, in particular the central tower, was close to collapse. £2,000,000 was raised and spent by 1972 to reinforce and strengthen the building foundations and roof. During the excavations that were carried out, remains of the north corner of the Roman ''Principia'' (headquarters of the Roman fort of [[Eboracum]]) were found under the south transept. This area, as well as remains of the Norman cathedral, re-opened to the public in spring 2013 as part of the new exhibition exploring the history of the building of York Minster.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yorkminster.org/about-us/york-minster-revealed-ymr.html |title=Revealed |publisher=York Minster |access-date=19 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907104555/http://www.yorkminster.org/about-us/york-minster-revealed-ymr.html |archive-date=7 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===1984 fire===
{{main|York Minster fire}}
On 9 July 1984, York Minster suffered a serious fire in its south transept during the early morning hours.<ref name="Potts">{{cite news|first=Lauren|last=Potts|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-28112373|title=Remembering the York Minster fire 30 years on|work=BBC News|date=9 July 2014|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417103958/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-28112373|archive-date=17 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Firefighters made a decision to deliberately collapse the roof of the south transept by pouring tens of thousands of gallons of water onto it, in order to save the rest of the building from destruction.<ref name="OnthisDay"/> A total of 114 firefighters from across [[North Yorkshire]] responded to the fire and contained it,<ref name="Potts"/> while York Minster's staff and clergy rushed to preserve historical objects in the building.<ref name=Potts/> The glass of the south transept rose window was shattered by the heat but the lead held it together, allowing it to be taken down for restoration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/05/world/york-minster-is-back-to-life-after-84-fire.html|title=York Minster Is Back to Life After '84 Fire|work=The New York Times|date=5 November 1988|access-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419050105/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/05/world/york-minster-is-back-to-life-after-84-fire.html|archive-date=19 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="OnthisDay">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/july/9/newsid_3857000/3857779.stm|title=1984: York Minster ablaze|work=BBC News|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328213630/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/july/9/newsid_3857000/3857779.stm|archive-date=28 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> A subsequent investigation found an 80% chance that the fire was caused by a lightning strike to a metal electrical box on top of the roof, a 10% chance that the fire was caused by arson, and a 10% chance that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.<ref name="Potts"/> Some traditionalist Anglicans suggested the fire was a sign of divine displeasure at the recent consecration as [[Bishop of Durham]] of [[David Jenkins (bishop)|David Jenkins]], whose views they considered [[heterodoxy|heterodox]].<ref name=Telegraph_obit>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/09/04/the-right-reverend-david-jenkins-bishop-of-durham--obituary/ |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |issue=((50,165)) |date=5 September 2016 |page=25 |title=The Right Reverend David Jenkins: Bishop of Durham who created a storm for the Church but was admired within his diocese |access-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418092722/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/09/04/the-right-reverend-david-jenkins-bishop-of-durham--obituary/ |archive-date=18 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Inspecting Fire damage, firemen, York Minster.jpg|thumb|Firemen inspect damage the day after the fire in 1984]]
A repair and restoration project was completed in 1988 at a cost of £2.25&nbsp;million,<ref name="Potts"/> and included new [[Boss (architecture)|roof bosses]] to designs which had won a competition put on by [[BBC Television]]'s ''[[Blue Peter]]'' programme for children.<ref name="OnthisDay"/> The roof trusses were rebuilt in oak, but some were coated with fire-retardant plaster.<ref name="Potts"/>

===2002 West Door renewal===
In 2002, the carvings round the great west door, which had become severely weathered, were replaced with new sculptures carved by Minster masons to designs by the sculptor [[Rory Young (sculptor)|Rory Young]], telling the [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] story.

===2007–2018 renovation===
In 2007 renovation began on the east front, including the Great East Window, at an estimated cost of £23&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yorkminster.org/learning/the-minsters-history/ |title=York Minster: a very brief history |publisher=York Minster |access-date=5 October 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209035428/http://www.yorkminster.org/learning/the-minsters-history/ |archive-date=9 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://70.86.220.251/documents/73/press-pack.pdf |title=York Minster Press Pack |access-date=5 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030085407/http://70.86.220.251/documents/73/press-pack.pdf |archive-date=30 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 311 glass panels from the Great East Window were removed in 2008 for conservation. The project was completed in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-44155108/york-minster-window-renovations-complete-after-a-decade|title=York Minster window renovations complete after a decade|work=BBC News|date=17 May 2018|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417173929/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-44155108/york-minster-window-renovations-complete-after-a-decade|archive-date=17 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Schools===
There have been choir schools associated with the Minster since the 7th century. A 'song school' was founded in 627 by [[Paulinus of York]], the first Archbishop of York.<ref name="school-history">{{cite web |publisher=The Minster School |url=http://www.minsterschoolyork.co.uk/about-us/history/ |title=History |access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118053108/http://www.minsterschoolyork.co.uk/about-us/history/ |archive-date=18 January 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Buildings used by the [[The Minster School, York|former Minster school]] have been awarded listed status, among them the school house built 1830–33,<ref>{{NHLE | num = 1257229 | desc = Minster Song School (Part), York| date =14 June 1954 |access-date = 1 July 2017}}</ref> two houses dating back to 1837,<ref>{{NHLE | num= 1257259 | desc = Minster Song School (Part), York| date =14 June 1954 |access-date = 1 July 2017}}</ref> and a Georgian building of 1755.<ref>{{NHLE | num = 1257261 | desc = Minster Song School (Part), York | date =14 June 1954 |access-date = 1 July 2017}}</ref>