Minster Close , Monday

Today I have spent most of my time in the Minster and buildings close by and related.
Firstly, after a good nights sleep, I went for a walk. I solved the previous day’s problem of the crowded shambles ( cobbled old street with little old shops) and people everywhere. At 7am, the only other people I saw for 40 minutes or so were a few delivery people and a few locals going to work. The rain might have helped! Breakfast here doesnot start till 8am. Apart from some nice berries, it was unremarkable.

I spent a while at the Post Office – I sent home my clothes that I wore to the wedding. Soon after I arrived at the Minster a guided tour started which I joined. It was free, took 1 1/2 hours and the guide we had was excellent. . He told us about the history, all sorts of funny anecdotes about various people, its more recent history etc etc.
According to him, the nave was not used for services in Medieval and later times – it was used for community events. Now, each January, they clear the chairs out, have all sorts of things including line dancing and at the end of the month have a huge rock concert that over 2000 kids go to. One of the chapels has a display of the current work of the stone masons. After the tour I wandered around on my own and took some photos.

In the afternoon I went , on principle – it is a National Trust building and I could get in for free – to the Treasures House. For many centuries this was the home of the Treasurer of the York Minster. It was bought in 1897 by a wealthy local Frank Green. He created different period rooms for his antique collection of furniture. Every 10 years or so he shifted walls, redecorated, moved furniture. There were many very opulent rooms, but it was a bit disjointed.

Right next to the Minster is another church, St Michael le Belfrey. It was built in the 1500’s for the ordinary people. At that time, only the well-to-do people of York could go to the Minster.. There is a very well cared for collection of buildings nearby that is now the very exclusive school for the young choristors at the Minster. There is also a very old building called St Michaels – dark timber beams, white in between, overhanging 2nd story etc. It housed the Chantry priests - employed to chant. They were ‘certainly no angels’ according to 1 pamphlet.

After afternoon tea I wandered around the Minsters crypt, undercroft and treasury (collection of mainly cups for communion wine arranged roughly chronologically) .You wernt around on a path that showed you different layers of foundations in the exposed rocks. At 1 point you could see the base of the present nave wall on top of a Norman buttress.

I sat quite happily for ½ hour in the Minster then went to evensong. It was sung, but it is school holidays so no local young choristers but a visiting choir. Then my local nice restaurant for dinner.

PS The group of combined Yorkshire churches also have a ‘ride and stride’ day.