For 800 years, this great Gothic church, the largest in Britain and built between AD1220 and AD 1472 has stood guard over the city. It represents 1400 years of continuous Christian worship on a site woven into the fabric of English history. It is the fifth successive church to be built here, the first minster being a small wooden church built in 627AD.
The word minster refers to the evangelical ministry of St Augustine, who, at the behest of Pope Gregory landed in Kent in the 7th century, to convert the English to Christianity. Proceeding north, he left behind a monk and a small church in which to continue the ministry. The Anglo Saxons called such a church, a Mynster, the word now minster being associated with churches of early Christendom.
The official name of York Minster is 'The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of St. Peter' and is the seat of the Archbishop of York, styled ' Primate of England'. The other metropolitan church (The Metropolitan Church of Christ) is that of Canterbury in Kent whose Archbishop is styled ' Primate of ALL England' and who is the head of the Anglican Church.
The Minster has always had indirect connections with masonry both operative and speculative and contains much to satisfy an interest in masonic history. There are for instance Mason's marks scattered about, particularly in the crypt. An early minute of 1778 of York Grand Lodge gave details of an assembly of Royal Arch Brethren in the Crypt of York Minster.
At the west end of the nave is a small Paternoster chapel, surrounded by a railing containing masonic symbols, with others above the altar. These were placed there in 1945, the chapel being partially sponsored by women freemasons from Nova Scotia whose coat of arms is incorporated in the chapel.
The Minster's windows, 128 in total, contains an unrivalled collection of mediaeval stained glass, together with glass from other centuries.In the north nave aisle is the famous Heraldic window given by Canon Peter de Dene around AD 1308. Amongst the heraldic detail is included the arms of the Knight Templars which suggests the window was made just before the Papal Bulls outlawing them. You will find evidence of masonic monetary help in their upkeep on the wall inscriptions in the north aisle and the south transept. In the South nave aisle is a Jesse window. Jesse was the father of King David and grandfather of King Solomon, so a Jesse Window represents the family tree of the House of David to which Jesus Christ belonged. The roundels were painted by William Peckett in the 18th century with one of them featuring interlocking triangles with an eye at the centre.
There is, in the South choir aisle, a memorial to Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence who died in 1897 in London but who had been for three years a major in a cavalry regiment in York. Although not stated, he was the eldest son of Edward the Seventh, who at that time was Prince of Wales. The memorial was placed there by the then Dean, Arthur Purey-Cust, he also has a memorial on the west wall of the south transept to mark his death in 1917. Both were freemasons. There is a lodge in the city named Albert Victor Lodge whose first Master was Dean Purey-Cust and of which the Duke was an honorary member.
Another notable office of York Minster, that of Chapter Clerk, was held at that time by T.B.Whytehead and a masonic luminary of his day. He was a founding member and an early Master of Eboracum Lodge and was responsible for the acquisition of the building which Eboracum Lodge and Minster Lodge now share.
A major recent project was the restoration of the St William's window in the North choir aisle which was sponsored by the Province of Yorkshire (North and East Riding) at a cost of £400,000+. The window has only recently been completed (2007) after five years work and a service to rededicate it will soon be held. Outside the south door is a fine 1998 bronze statue of Constantine the Great paid for in part by a masonic order, the Red Cross of Constantine to commerate his visit to Yorkin Ad 306. I am sure there is enough here to wet the appetite, but the most satisfaction is obtained by a visit. You will not be disappointed.