York Minster

The first York Minster was a small wooden church built under the
care of Paulinus, the chaplain of Princess Ethelburga, who came
north to marry King Edwin of Northumbria. It was then transformed
into a stone church by Edwin after he was baptised but it fell into
disrepair before being rebuilt by the Bishop of York, St Wilfrid, in
670.

When you enter the building you will see one of the widest Gothic
naves in Europe. Begun in 1291 and finished in the 1350`s it is used
for services throughout the year. Leaving the nave, the Minster
spreads out as you enter the North and South Transepts, the oldest
part of the present building. Probably built between the 1270`s and
1280`s, the Chapter House strikes a balance between contemporary
English Court style and French Gothic architecture.

Coming out of the Chapter House, the visitor should then examine The
Choir. Built in the 14th century, this is where the daily services
are held.Below The Choir lies the Minster Crypt which was originally
the area below a platform built to raise the High Altar (the focal
point of worship).