Minster

An awe-inspiring look at York Minster through the changing seasons and from different vantage points, including a birds-eye view.

York’s famous Minster is the subject of this beautifully shot – in CinemaScope, no less – film made by an amateur group of cine enthusiasts. The group were always keen to add an unusual element to their productions, evidenced in this case by the opening shots taken from a plane. It’s interesting to note the lack of people in the winter section of the film; today, York is a year-round tourist destination, with little distinction in visitor numbers across the seasons.

The construction of the Minster as we know it today began in 1220 and was officially completed in 1472. Since then, it has withstood all manner of challenging situations, not least during the Reformation in the 16th Century, when the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. The building has also survived four fires, the most recent being in the early hours of 9th July 1984, when lightning struck the South Transept roof and the flames could be seen as far away as Scarborough on the East Coast. Restoration took 4 years, at a cost of £2.25m, and included the repair of the stained glass Rose Window, which had cracked in 40,000 places after reaching temperatures of 450C.