York Minster is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe and the seat of the third most important office in the Church of England. A wooden church was first built on the site in 627CE to baptise Edwin the King of Northumbria. A stone church was completed a few years later but fell into decay within a few decades and was destroyed in a fire in 714. The church was rebuilt on a larger scale though suffered a number of times due to the turmoil of the late Saxon period.
The church was rebuilt in the Norman style in 1080. The church was rebuilt and modified in the Gothic style in the following century. Building continued until 1472. The church suffered during the Civil War, Reformation and from a number of fires including a serious fire in 1984 which destroyed the roof of the South transept.
The church has a cruciform plan with North and South transepts. The church has the widest Gothic nave in England and two towers at the West end of the church. The 15th century central tower was one of the last parts of the church to be built.
