David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

York Minster in York, England – Part 2, The Organ

The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, commonly known as York Minster, is the cathedral of York, England, and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. York Minster is one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals, a vision of heaven on earth crafted in stained glass and stone. For a millennia, people have been drawn to this sacred place but its story stretches back 2,000 years to the birth of modern day Christianity in Roman York. The cathedral has more medieval stained glass than anywhere else in the country. In 2018, for the first time in nearly a decade, visitors are able to see one of its most famous works of art – the Great East Window – revealed following a decade-long restoration and conservation project. (I got my photos before the restoration began.) York Minster’s Central Tower is the highest point in York and offers unbeatable, panoramic views of the city.

The first recorded church on the site was a wooden structure built hurriedly in 627 to provide a place to baptise Edwin, King of Northumbria. A stone structure was completed in 637 by Oswald and was dedicated to Saint Peter. In 741, the church was destroyed in a fire. It was rebuilt as a more impressive structure containing thirty altars. It was damaged in 1069, destroyed in 1075 and rebuilt in the Norman style. It was damaged again in 1137 and remodeled in 1154. In 1220 construction of a Gothic structure began, and continued into the 15th century. The cathedral was declared complete and consecrated in 1472. It was subject to looting and destruction following the English Reformation, and it was ravaged by several fires in the 1800s. From 1858 Augustus Duncombe worked successfully to revive the cathedral. During the 20th century there was more concerted preservation work, especially following a 1967 survey that revealed the building, in particular the central tower, was close to collapse. The cathedral was hit by a serious fire in 1984, but repair and restoration was completed in 1988. In 2007 a big renovation project was initiated and this was completed in 2018. Enough history – now to the pictures.


DSC_0349.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_0267.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_0288.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_0292.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_0308.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_0311.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_0315.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_0345.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_0346.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr

There are too many pictures for just one set. Part 1 covers the Exterior and major Interior views; Part 3 is of the Organ; and Part 4 includes some other Interior views.
Part 1: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-669565-1.html#11653198
Part 3: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-669566-1.html#11653202
Part 4: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-669570-1.html#11653227

NMGal Loc: NE NM

I’ve never seen so many pull out thingys on an organ. Don’t know what they are called.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

They are called "draw knobs", and they control the voices of the organ (called "stops"). You may have seen other consoles with rows of tongue-shaped tabs above the keyboards--they do the same thing as the draw knobs (2 different styles of controls).

Thanks for viewing my photos.

angler Loc: StHelens England

Nice set David.

Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

Excellent David.

Irvingite Charles Loc: Irving, Tx

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

You are a master of church interior David.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

angler and Doddy, thanks so much. I'm glad you liked it.

Charles, thanks for the thumbs! Nice to see you, neighbor.

blacks2, I appreciate your comment and the 4 thumbs! Thanks.

steve Loc: Iowa

I'm jealous.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

steve, I quite understand. It's quite an instrument.

Blair, thanks for the thumbs. Glad you liked it.

Ourspolair

Wow! If that organ is still a tracker, it must require a lot of energy to play. Hopefully they made it electro-pneumatic, at least! Thanks for another informative, nicely illustrated post. Please stay well.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Thank you very much. I'm pleased you liked it. I'm doing my best to stay well.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good shots of a very large monster, David.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Thanks, Earnest. It is a big place.