THE MINSTER
The Church was the dominant factor in the social life of mediaeval England. Bishops vied with each other in making their cathedrals more and more beautiful. Each person was anxious to do his share in helping on the great work of the Church. Kings used their influence to further building operations, nobles gave materials and money, whilst ecclesiastics worked diligently in the cause and set a good example to the faithful. Funds for the fabric were augmented by the granting of indulgences, penances, and briefs, and by offerings and bequests. A noble would remember his friends by erecting some part of the structure or by gifts of painted windows; a merchant endowed a chantry chapel, the tradesman set up an altar; whilst the less wealthy left a sum of money for a priest to say mass at an already existing altar. Each citizen was personally interested in the edifice.
The first minster at York was built nearly thirteen centuries ago for the baptism of Edwin, King of Northumbria. It was of wood and dedicated to St. Peter, and therein the King was baptized by Bishop Paulinus. Edwin selected his political capital of York to be also the ecclesiastical capital, and
induced Pope Honorius to confirm his selection of Paulinus as Archbishop, and he began the erection of a stone cathedral around the wooden edifice. But before the scheme could be carried out, the King fell in battle, and Paulinus fled for safety to Kent, and it was not until after a century that York became an archbishopric. During the time of Alcuin, schoolmaster at York and the greatest scholar of his age, a new minster was erected, which was destroyed by fire in the revolt of northern England against the Normans.