York Minster

York Minster is a cathedral in York, and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. Bishop Paulinus accompanied the Christian princess Ethelburga of Kent when she came north to marry Edwin of Northumbria. Edwin was convinced to convert to Christianity, and Paulinus baptised him in a church especially constructed for the purpose. This rude wooden church, of which nothing remains, is regarded as the first York Minster. This first church was rebuilt in stone a few years later, and dedicated to St. Peter.

This church was itself rebuilt by St. Wilfrid around 670, but it was Egbert (732-766), the first recognised Archbishop of York, who made the cathedral school and library the envy of Europe. The Minster Church burned down in 741, but it was replaced by a glorious new church containing no less than 30 altars. It is said that the current building dates back to 627.

One of the most popular stories associated with the Minster occurred during the 1920’s when two members of a touring group were separated from the rest. Walking alone they saw a man in naval attire watching them, he came over and whispered in one of the ladies ears, then walked off. It transpired that the naval man was the brother of the lady whom he had whispered to, they had once made a pact that whomever died first would come and prove to the other that the afterlife existed. Here was her brother, killed at sea, returning to tell her that there was something after life!