Religious Sites in York That You Should Visit

By Daisy Hutchinson

York has been a city since before records began and as a result has a deep and fascinating story in every nook and cranny, just waiting to be remembered. It’s one of my favourite things about the city, attracting tourists, students and new residents year upon year and one of the biggest reasons I chose to move here. There is something to excite everyone, from the 800-year-old pub, House of the Trembling Madness to the Jorvik Viking Centre. York is on the bucket list for thousands of people, to the occasional dismay of local residents on the weekend! But for me, one of the most overlooked reasons to visit York is the sites of religious importance. If you are studying religion like me, then you should be doing it here – the moving and memorable sights rival anything else within the country, even when you’re analysing them.

York Minster

The obvious one is York Minster, even just sitting next to it takes your breath away. A marvel of engineering and human will, as well as somewhere that can provide peace and comfort to nearly one million visitors annually. It is one of the most popular reasons to visit the city in the first place, offering something of interest to everyone; gothic architecture, walking the basements, the view from the roof, there is nothing in the UK that can top it. If that’s too touristy, then there are beautiful churches throughout the city, ranging in design and modern usage such as St. Crux Parish Hall or All Saints Church. You can get more information about your visit here.

Clifford’s Tower

There are also sites of religious significance outside of Christianity. Clifford’s tower is known as a site where an estimated 150 Jewish people chose to commit mass suicide, rather than be murdered by a mob who had surrounded the castle. Today, daffodils surround the tower, planted there because they bloom in March when the massacre occurred and resemble the Star of David. There is a huge amount of history within the tower, which has existed in some form since the time of William the Conqueror, but the 1190 massacre is undoubtedly some of the darkest and serves an important reminder of some of the darkest points in Jewish history. There is more information on the history of the tower available here.

Jewbury Cemetery

There is also the Jewbury cemetery where Jewish people were buried during medieval times, although none of the victims of the 1190 massacre are thought to be buried there. Used until Jews were exiled from Britain in 1290, the site was excavated following the beginning of construction of a multi-storey car park, and the bodies moved under the supervision of a rabbi and observed by members of the current Jewish community. There are still bodies there today that were undisturbed by the construction efforts. With a plaque at the site in memorial, it may not be a site of worship, but it is certainly a place of history. You can find more information here.

Thornborough Henge

York can also be seen as a hub of spiritual ideas, with popular shops such as The Zentist on Gillygate mixed along the street. This is embodied by the May Day festival, Beltane, which is celebrated every year at Thornborough Henge on the outskirts of York. The festival itself has Pagan roots, linking it to Celtic times and is celebrated today with both ancient and contemporary details, including maypole dancing, drumming and giving thanks to nature. Some couples even have handfasting ceremonies, the Pagan equivalent of a wedding. There, you can buy healing crystals, jewellery and other items to connect to your inner witch. There are plenty of places in the UK that are Celtic or Wiccan, but few are still used the way Thornborough Henge is. If you want to attend, the details of the festival can be found here.

When talking about towns with religious elements we might talk about Glastonbury or Canterbury. When talking about how York has been shaped through history, we talk about Romans, the rebuilding of the Minster after the fires or how Guy Fawkes was born here. And rightly so. Yet, there is far more to discover in York than just the Minster, as incredible as it is. There is something from so many faiths and they can be enjoyed by the atheist and the clergy alike. Religion forms an important part of the foundation of York and is vastly underappreciated.