Celtic Spirituality Pilgrimage: Celtic Spirituality Pilgrimage, Day 8: York and York Minster

St. David's Episcopal Church

Celtic Spirituality Pilgrimage

led by

Ken and Darlene Swanson

Day 8, April 11th: York, England and York Minster

We drove across the midlands of England, skirting Manchester and Leeds before arriving in the wonderful city of York. York is one of the oldest cities in England, having been the northern capital of Roman Britain from early in the 1st century AD. It is also of tremendous significance in Christian history, as it was in York, the 6th Roman Legion declared Constantine to be emperor in 306AD. Constantine was the first Roman emperor to be Christian, and he enfranchised the Christian Church. A statue on the grounds of York Minster commemorates the event.

The old city of York, behind medieval walls is in the words of one of our pilgrims, "the most charming place I've ever been." We entered the city through the Monk's Gate.

Many of the narrow streets leading away from York Minster are much like they were centuries ago.

The Shambles.

The towers of the massive York Minster can be seen from almost every street.

There has been a Christian church on the site since the 6th century. It became a cathedral in 664AD and soon after was named an archdiocese. From that time on, there were two archdioceses in Britain, one in Canterbury and one in York. Construction on the present cathedral, called York Minster, the third cathedral building, was begun in the early 14th century and is one of the largest churches in the world.

The title "minster" is attributed to churches established in the Anglo-Saxon period as missionary teaching churches, and is now used as an honorary title.