Beverley Minster

The first Minster was founded in the middle of the 7^th century by missionary preachers.  It is thought that it consisted of a wooden building with a few huts for those who worked there to live.

 705 – 718, Bishop John of York visited Beverley whilst traveling around the churches that were in his care. Here ‘In the wood of the men of Deira’ he was greatly attracted to the place, perhaps because it was close to his home village of Harpham.  He retired ‘to his own monastery’ believed to have been the first Beverley Minster where he died on the 7th May 721 and was buried at St Peter’s altar. It is believed that the first Minster was destroyed in about 866 by a Viking raid and Bishop John’s tomb was destroyed.  Now his tomb is at the East end of the nave.

 in his lifetime many people thought Bishop John was a saint, he performed miraculous cures on people; and was particularly associated with the deaf. After his death pilgrims made their way to Beverley in the hope of being cured, and his name became well known.

 In 937 King Athelstan of Wessex visited Beverley on his way north to do battle with the Scots and the Norsemen.  He prayed for Bishop John’s intercession in the coming battle promising rewards if he succeeded.  After his victory he refounded the Minster and gave it land and privileges.  One of the privileges was the right of sanctuary - the right to give protection to fleeing criminals.  The Sanctuary Chair or “Frithstool” is on the left side of the high altar.  A church official would sit here to receive the criminals.  The chair is of Saxon date and may well have been Bishop John’s chair.  From 1478 to 1539 there were 469 criminals and debtors who came to Beverley for safety.

 From a simple wooden church through the centuries to the magnificent Minster we see today, the history of the church is closely intertwined with the prosperity of Beverley

 For more in depth information please visit the Minster web site Beverley Minster