Beverley, six miles to the north of Hull was once the capital of the East Riding of Yorkshire, home to Beverley Minister regarded as one of the most beautiful and attractive churches in England. It has the architectural grandeur of a cathedral compared to a church as most English cathedrals are more than overshadowed by Beverley. Built in the 7th century by St.John of Beverley is the first church in Beverley.
John later became the Bishop of York and was returned to Beverley after retirement and was buried in his church. The Danes later on almost destroyed the church but it was rebuilt and visited by King Athelstan in the 10th century. Pilgrims continued to flock more and more to John’s shrine and in 1037, he was canonized as a saint. The church was then refashioned by the Normans, but their fire destroyed their new building in 1188.
In 1138 the saint’s banner was carried with the standards of other famous northern saints at the Battle of the Standard near Northallerton. Around 1220 rebuilding of a new minister church began and continued through until around 1420 out bringing the magnificent church of today. Inside the minister, an elaborated shrine dedicated to the Percy family which was constructed in the 14th century.
Sanctuary to criminals similar to the sanctuary offered at Durham Cathedral
A peace stool in the shrine is present offering sanctuary to criminals similar to the sanctuary offered at Durham Cathedral. Beverley’s Minister may not be quite as grand or imposing as York’s but it is lighter, more slender, more elegant somehow in the way it reaches towards the heavens. In 1415, King Henry v credited St.John with helping him to win the Battle of Agincourt, later visiting the Saint’s shrine to give thanks and making him one of the patron saints of the Royal family.
The Beverley minister is a classic example of the Gothic style
The minister is a classic example of the Gothic style of church architecture which swept across England in the early middle ages. The architecture allowed the weight of a church roof to be spread through acres and passed down through pillars, making for much taller, lighter buildings. Revelation bright and light. Much more than a parish church, Beverley minister was a showcase of one of the best England saints there shall ever be.
Thirteen hundred years later, from the very same spot, is a building of soaring, airy beauty. Said to be the model for the front of Westminster Abbey and in the architecture style, weathered stone, soaring Gothic arches resembling York Minister.
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