Construction of York Minster

York Minster is the cathedral of the Archbishop of York, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe. Building of the present church began under Archbishop Walter de Gray, who started with the south transept, replacing an earlier Norman cathedral. Work continued for over two centuries, in the Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular styles, and the cathedral was finally consecrated in the late fifteenth century. It is famous for its great medieval stained glass, including the Great East Window, which is one of the largest areas of medieval glass in the country. A fire in the south transept in 1984, caused by lightning, led to a major restoration. The Minster stands on the site of a Roman fortress and of earlier Anglo-Saxon churches.

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