The Big M

No, it's not MacDonald's, although there are plenty of them here as well. It's the Minster!


We got a good look at it from the outside when we first got here, but we finally shelled out the pounds to see the inside of this amazing building.











There's so much history in this place that it's hard to know where to begin! But I'll try to summarize the main idea, interspersed wih pictures that may or may not have any relevance...






It all started out with a Roman structure that dates back to who-knows-when. Like most Roman buildings, it was square and practical. Parts of a wall from that building still exist, and it shows paintings of a mediterranian scene, perhaps to make them feel better in the cold north. Unfortunately, it's in the basement/crypt where pictures aren't allowed.







After the Romans, York was Christianized and populated by the Normans and the Saxons and whoever else, during which the Minster was built. One interesting bit: while the Roman structure was built according to the lay of the land, the custom of Cathedrals is to go long-ways from East to West. So the Roman ruins intersect the Minster, but they're oriented 45 degrees apart.




Every couple hundred years, the people decided that their cathedral wasn't as good as the Jones's next door, and so over the centuries, it kept getting bigger and bigger! In a pre-modern mindset, this was tangible evidence of God's providence in the city... amazingly similar to the ancient Jewish connection to the glory of the Temple. In the absence of any tangible relation between Biblical Jews and European Christians, it seems that mentality must be a basic part of human nature. I wonder what today's post-christian, post-modern counterparts would be? Hm...





They still hold services in the Minster; Anglican, of course. Another interesting bit, the church next door (which is like an extension of the Minster) hosts an Alpha program. If you're not familiar, it's an informal social get-together/Bible study that tries to introduce people to the ideas of the Bible without the cultural trappings of "church." The contrast between the deep, rich cultural tradition of the Anglican church and their apparent willingness to step outside that tradition in order to relate to a post-christian world is very striking.



Honey Lou, if you're reading, this last picture is for you!




I've only said a little bit, but hopefully enough for you to see how amazing the Minster is. Leave a post if you feel so inclined (and sign it if you want us to know who you are!) And, as always... thanks for reading!