England
Yorkshire

Historic Churches in Yorkshire

Ripon Cathedral
St. Cuthbert, who seems to have gotten about quite a bit during and after his lifetime, was once guestmaster at the 7th century Celtic monastery here, but it was not until 1836 that Ripon became a cathedral. The original nave (circa 1180) had no aisles, the only illumination was from the clerestory. There is a Saxon crypt, but the rood screen and the choir stalls with their rich and allegorical carving are the chief interest. Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, is supposed to have been inspired by the strange beasts carved here.

York Minster
In 627 King Edwin of Northumbria was converted to Christianity and built a wooden oratory here. This was later rebuilt in stone, but the present Minster is almost entirely a Gothic structure. The transepts date to the early 13th century, and are vaulted in wood, not stone. The polygonal chapter house, built without a central pier, is also vaulted in wood. At the crossing there is a series of 15th century sculptures of all the English kings from William the Conqueror to Henry VI.

The true glory of York, though, lies in its stained glass. This was a visionary cathedral, in the sense that the architects tried to apply the Gothic principle of the window being more important than the wall. The north transept and the great east window, which relates the history of the world, are marvels, and much of the glass is original. York Minster In-Depth

© David Ross and Britain Express