York Minster official named Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York is a gothic cathedral in York, England and one of the largest cathedrals in North Europe together with the Cologne Cathedral. The York Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of York (the third highest official in the Church of England) and it is the mother church for the Diocese of York. It is run by a dean and a chapter.

York Minster attracts many visitors with its richly decorated gothic nave and chapter house. Its unique Perpendicular Gothic quire and east end are quite impressive too. The Great East Window is located in the Lady Chapel in the east end. The window painting was completed in 1408 and it is recognized as the largest medieval stained glass in the world. The Five Sisters Window is in the north transept and has five lancets each being over 16 meters high.

The church that existed at the place where York Minster is today was destroyed by the Danes in 1075. Five years later the construction of the current cathedral began. The new building was damaged by fire in 1137 but soon after repaired. The quire and the crypt were reconstructed in 1154 when a new chapel was built as well. They were all designed in Norman style.

The Gothic architecture established itself in England in the middle of 12th century and Walter de Gray who was made archbishop in 1215 ordered the construction of a Gothic cathedral. The building works on the new structure began in 1220 and York Minster was completed and consecrated in 1472.

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