We are so lucky in this country to have buildings like this , it’s a part of our heritage

Honestly, it makes me feel so happy that an American Mid-Western couple, like yourselves can really appreciate the level of craftsmanship and history involved in a building like this!!!

What I love about your vlogs compared to some others that I have watched is your appreciation of British history, can tell that you really enjoy it

I always imagine back in medieval times, walking along the narrow alleys that lead to the Minster, the awe they must have felt on seeing the building must have been breathtaking. No wonder the church was so powerful.

*THIS IS WHY* the £12 Billion it is going to cost to renovate the Houses Of Parliament is NOT a waste of money...!!! It will pay the mortgages of thousands of craftsmen, it will train the next generation through hundreds of apprenticeships, it will ensure the skills continue to exist for another 50 years.

I work in stained glass restoration. My colleague used to work at the Minster, it’s amazing the amount of work they put into preserving the glass. The reason they need to protect against uv is sunlight can change the colour of certain glass depending on what it is made from, some clear glass can turn pink or go ‘muddy’ over time. I’ve only been in this job a year and I’ve learnt so much! Glad you guys enjoyed exploring ☺️

True story. When I lived in York I was waiting for a friend in front of the minster & was approached by an American tourist. She said "Excuse me honey. . . Where's the big church?" I just, very pointedly, looked behind me & then back at her. Also, once I went in to visit the crypt & it was very quiet & late in the day. The next thing the organ started up. There was a full on Latin mass taking place. Its terrifying when you're alone.

Been watching your vlogs on everything British for quite a while now. It's culminated in your arrival to these shores. Wow! What a lovely and level-headed couple you are! I like to Gauge American viewpoints about the UK, everything from History, food, Monarchy and culture, etc. You're the best when it comes to Vlogs. Unlike one of your American counterparts (whom I followed till recently) who sadly, resorted to semi nude clickbait vids which left me mortified and angry. Your vlogs are exactly as they should be. Clean, entertaining, thought-provoking and friendly. Thanks for your positive and honest vibes of the UK.

I lived in York for nearly twenty years. To be honest, York is amazing, but mainly in the winter and around Christmas. The Minster does the nine lessons carol service on Christmas Eve (and now on earlier dates). We turned up omce and were told it was too busy, and then they let some people (including us), into the choir seats. Couldn't see what was happening, but the experience was amazing. Then a walk home along The Shambles when we were the only people on the entire street.

Ahh I'm so glad you made it to the Minster I used to work there! In the undercroft museum bit there's some really cool small artefacts like a box that contained the heart of a crusader from the 1100's, a small wooden crucifix from the last Russian Tzar who was assassinated and a wooden rosarie from Anthony Babington who was executed by Elizabeth 1 for plotting to get Mary queen of scots on the throne.

the first time I visited York Minster it was late afternoon and as I was wandering around admiring everything the most beautiful choral singing started in another part of the building. It was so amazing and it was getting closer so I went to investigate and it was the choir doing evening song (I can't remember the exact name). As they walked slowly along the cathedral singing all the way it echoed all around the building, it was so beautiful, I've never forgotten it!

I'm in construction and our surveyor was a stone mason on Liverpool Cathedral (largest cathedral in Britain) from when he left school and throughout his early working life. It took 74 years to build and was only completed in 1978. He said that the stone was delivered to site in massive blocks and all call cut and hand carved on-site.

So glad to see this appreciation of the Minster on your Channel. Even an atheist like me has to be in awe of this wonderful building. The Archbishop of York is second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Monarch in terms of the hierarchy of the Church of England. Until his recent retirement, that post was held by John Sentamu, a Ugandan exile from the hideous regime of Idi Amin

So glad you enjoyed our city and especially the Minster. I feel privileged to live here.

9:03 The statue of Constantine the Great, the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianty. He was in York (Eboracum) when he became Emperor in 306. The whole city reeks with history. The Romans, later the Vikings (Yorvik Museum is a must) and then the battles of Fulford and Stamford Bridge in 1066, just outside the city. Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up Parliament in 1605, was born in York.

I'm so glad you included so much about the Minster, especially the Roman ruins underneath, its beautiful.

I have loved your videos during your travels in the uk, you have paid the utmost respect to our history, which you seem to have really enjoyed. Well done. I live in Leicester, in the Midlands, which is also a Roman city, it was called Ratae which was a Celtic word, Roman Leicester was one of the first cities built by the Romans, we are very proud of our Roman history. So glad you guys enjoyed your trip. 🇬🇧👏🏻🙂

It's the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. Its probably not the tallest or most spectacular from the outside but inside you can really feel the scale of the place. Very impressive.

I live 42 miles from York and even though I’ve seen the Minster many, many times I am still overawed whenever it comes into view.

Fantastic commentary. Informed, relaxed working it between you with such appreciation for everything you saw. You made it so interesting and easy to walk with you during your visit. A really great Vlog. Thank you. As Americans you are so welcome. As a nation we owe America so much through two World Wars to this day.

Work began on the current Minster in 1220 and took 262 years to complete. It replaced an earlier Norman Church on the site. Before that there was an Anglo Saxon period church there. And before that a Roman Church. A visiting Roman Emperor died whilst visiting the city. His son Constantine, who was also here was declared Emperor from the city. Constantine was the first Christian Emperor and so the city got its first Bishop in 314. What attracted the Romans to build a fort here was their wish to dominate the main spiritual centre of the North of England. In the Iron Age people were interested in the cycle of life and death. Yew Trees grow here. The Yew is evergreen and seems to live forever, typically 2-3 thousand years. (There is a 5000 year old Yew in Wales). They did not worship the trees, but believed that the ground capable of growing a tree that lives forever, must be somehow magical. Today there are some younger Yews in York. We see the same pattern all over the country, with Christian buildings constructed on ancient pagan sites.

The stone for York Minster came from quarries In nearby Tadcaster, taken by boat down the River Wharfe and back up the River Ouse. The quarries are still worked today, although Tadcaster's chief claim to fame these days is in having 3 major breweries. The breweries just edge it, in importance to the wellbeing of the UK, over the quarry.

I was very impressed with this post, it's excellent. If you ever get back to York I suggest you also visit the Jovik Centre. About 50 years ago they were excavating for a shopping centre and found an old viking settlement. As the British do they stopped the work and renovated it so its now an attraction. It may not be as impressive as the minster but it is impressive and worth a visit.

Dear Both, really enjoyed your reflections on your visit to York Minster. When you filmed the choir stalls, pulpit and alter, it reminded me of my wife and myself sitting in at the back of choir stalls for the Sunday Morning Service in September 1973 during our honeymoon. Being a widower, having lost Sue to a 2 year battle with cancer in 2014, it ignited a special memory for me. Thank you. ps I heard somewhere that the minster runs stonemason apprenticeship training courses as part of their restoration program.

Another very enjoyable video from your UK trip, thank you. It's many decades since I last visited York Minster, but in general, the majority of our cathedrals date back to at least the 15th century with many of them containing elements dating back to the 10th or 11th centuries. It seems weird that after all the impressive structures built and left by the Romans, we then spent multiple centuries unable to build with stone - which is why we have so little that pre-dates the late 900s!! It's also worth you reading up on Henry 8th and his decimation of religious building and artefacts during the English Reformation (1532 onwards) as this changed the fabric of churches and cathedrals throughout England & Wales. My absolute favourite cathedral is in Ely, Cambridgeshire (2nd smallest City in the UK). When the cathedral was initially built (1100s), Ely was an island largely occupied by monks - after draining the Fens (c400 years ago) the City evolved and is still surrounded by some of the most fertile arable land in the UK. It also has a gorgeous organ!! I share your fascination with all the details and frustrations when you can't see them clearly - may I suggest you buy the Guide books that are always available for sale? I strongly recommend you get on the Minster's website and order yourself a copy, aswell as any other sites you wanted to learn more about. thanks again!

That was beautifully done. This video should be on the Minster website.

You two have the traditional tourist attitude. Not just a this is another church and look at the pretty windows as you walk along, you’re giving out the I’m really interested in all that I’m looking at. I’m really impressed. There is so much in the ancient world that is still to be uncovered. That’s including the whole of Europe, they’re finding things hidden all the time. I think the last big find in the UK was the resting place of Edward or Henry the something in the excavation for a car park. It was a very big issue I think, that was a few years ago now but you can imagine the developer slapping his head and saying “not another undiscovered kings burial ground could they have marked it on a map or something” the grave had been hinted at but nothing written down. The place had been built on previously without finding it. Your tripping over things in the UK. about ten years ago a couple of metal detector blokes were mooching around a farmers field who they’d previously asked permission off of and found the biggest cache of personal treasure of a high Viking ever found, it was in a medium sized pot, dated around 71 AD because of the Roman invasion. Bang goes another “treasure trove”.

If you loved Yorkminster so much (which I completely understand 💗) then you have to go back to Edinburgh and visit Rosslyn Chapel 💒 hello from Denmark 🌸🌱

When we lived in York archaeologists dug up out back garden to find a Roman road… which they did. There's Roman stuff all over York. Eberacum (Roman name) was the military HQ in Roman Britain. It's a nightmare building anything in the city. Our neighbour at the time was a stone mason at the Minster. A little surprised you didn't mention Constantine who was made emperor in York. Then went on the Christianise the empire, after a little dalliance with sun worship of course.

Among the many many things I love about York, the one that stands out is that York, is history. It's hard to look anywhere without seeing history.

I'm so glad you enjoyed that, the minster is fantastic. York must be a construction company's nightmare because almost every time they start to excavate for a building they uncover history, the minster it was built on the ruins of a medieval church and the church was built on the ruins of a Roman fort. Not far away from the minster they began to excavate for a shopping centre and discovered a viking settlement, another must see! (Enjoy)

A brilliant vlog, well narrated and very informative. Footage and commentary delivered at just the right pace👍. You are both developing quite a documentary style of delivery, well done and thank you for spending time to produce an excellent vlog. 👍🙏🤗

As a former chorister who has sung in York Minster on several occasions I can assure you it sounds insane... the reverb is astonishing.

Maybe your best vlog of this trip, along with Angela's trek up Arthur's Seat. Well done and thank you.

I live in York. What I find extraordinary is that the Minster took 250 years to build. What is amazing is the number of stonemasons that must have worked on its construction but never saw it finished. Probably many fathers who passed their skills onto their sons, who continued their work, and passed their skills onto their sons. And yes the view from the top is well worth the climb.

Wow. What a place. Such craftsmanship

I once had a very dour friend who came from York. He recalled once walking in front of the York Minster and overhearing an enthusiastic American tourist exclaim to her husband ‘Oh, George, isn’t that just the cutest little church you ever did see!’. And no, I’m not making this up. Maybe my friend was-you never can tell with a Yorkshireman.

Such a great vlog with a lot of fascinating information. Love that you appreciated the history, art and architecture so much.

i live in york, clicked on this vid, just because, the minster to me is stunning, my grand parents were from york, i'm 55, have lived here for 35yrs, but have ben coming here since i was a nipper and i still find the minster a stunning piece of architecture, inside and out. it still has that wow factor, even now.

Thank you very much for actually going INSIDE one of our famous buildings! Too many KZfaqrs have a quick look at the exterior and then claim they have 'seen' it. Instead, they have missed out on so much of this country's historic beauty. Usually, the cost of entry deters them, but it is worth spending less on meals out (which you can eat anywhere in the world) and spending money on seeing famous interiors which can only be seen here: the Roman baths of Bath, Windsor and Warwick castles, Hampton Court, Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London etc etc. I have seen so many cathedrals here - all different, all very beautiful and interesting, all completely awe-inspiring. The same with castles, palaces and stately homes with their wonderful gardens: we have so many - get to see as many as possible while you are here. I live in York and the best bit of the minster is the crypt and the Roman remains. My elderly next door neighbour, a retired surveyor, was part of the team who was called in years ago when the minster threatened to collapse. They had to devise a method of reinforcing the foundations and he told me what to look for, including the steel bands about the pillars down in the 'basement'.

Your videos remind me just how much history we have, and how beautiful some of our buildings are.. Thank you.

Great video. At last Ethan is impressed!

Like you, I find the coins fascinating too. To think that many people from those times handled it. It's mind blowing.

Thank you for this! I visited the York Minster in 1980. I was a tourist from the midwest back then too! Brought back a lot of memories.

A multi year restoration of the East window was recently completed.

Having been on the top of York Minster, I can say it is a fantastic view, also an interesting climb, up some very tight stairways and a walk on the side of the roof

Goodness....this is the earliest I have stumbled on a new video from one of my favourite channels 😍 Thank you so much for taking us on this detailed tour of the Minster (I admit I have not yet visited York, but hope to). There is so much to look at here, such detail that could easily be missed and it is thanks to you two and your particular ATTENTION to detail that we get to appreciate it all too - and to learn a quite a bit in the process 👩‍🎓 So, thanks.... x

Brilliant! I loved that, interesting, informative & beautifully narrated. I really enjoyed exploring the the Minster with you.

You filming ability really showed us the beauty of this amazing building. I also remember a fire at York Minster in 1984 when it was struck by a lightening bolt. There was considerable damage that time as well which took time to repair.

Next time you're in UK try visiting Durham Cathedral ( nearly 200 years older than York minster)arriving by train gives a view that is breath taking .While the city is much smaller than York the surrounding area is just as rewarding. As Bill Bryson wrote in his bestselling book, Notes from a Small Island (1995). In it he described Durham as “wonderful - a perfect little city” and home to “the best cathedral on planet earth”

The minster is an amazing building. There is a book called haunted york that is quite interesting, historical and a bit of fun. You should look for a copy while you're in town.

Brilliant! The York Minster is really worth a visit, with so much history to find out about. Thank you for your tour.

It wasn't just the 1800s when York Minster caught fire as recently as 1984, the south transept caught fire causing the glass in the rose window to crack (the lead in the window held so they were able to restore it)

I was there with my parents in the 1970's. I always remember my Mother's words of wisdom. 'That's a hell of a lot of dusting to do every day'.

I’ve just returned from York and I saw the guy chiselling away and was super impressed by the detailing and smoothness of the stone. Lovely place

If you are visiting the minster they ask for a contribution. But if you go to Evensong you get to sit in those choir seats right behind the choir and listen to them singing in those soaring acoustics for free. It's amazing.

I lived in the pub at the side of the Minster. My bedroom faced the bells. So after a Saturday night out. I was always greeted by the monster bells on a Sunday

So glad you 2 enjoyed your visit. I took my daughter there over 25 years ago

Last time my wife and I were there (from Australia) we popped in for Evensong (it's on 2-3 days a week I think) to hear the choir sing. Great experience.

Thank you for that interesting post! I think we often learn more from our overseas visitors as we are so used to these buildings, and just accept them. I learned things from you, and also to maybe appreciate a little more the incredible history of this country.

My grandfather who i never met because he was killed in world war 2 in one of the last assaults on Italy in 1944 was part of as yorkshire Regiment and you can see thre commemorative book with his name which is stored in the minster . visted from brighton a few years back and got a nice pic of the commemoration at their request and gave it to my dad . despite not living near there anymore have a huge connection .

I loved it when you said the wooden finials had “a gothic feel”😀 The entire building is a testimony to Gothic architecture 😀 For anyone aware of gothic style development it provides a really good guide from Norman style (Crypt) with those big blocky columns & U shaped arches, through The development of lancet windows & the trefoils into full blown tracery of the large windows. Reflecting the changing styles over the many years it took to construct. It’s a great building (although Lincoln Cathedral is still my personal favourite). However if you REALLY want to blown away by a building….Hagia Sofia in Istanbul is….AMAZING & all built centuries before York.

I love York Minster - being a Yorkshire lass I’ve been a fair few times. The gargoyles are not just decorative but assist with drainage as well. The medieval stonemasons had to try and make the banal look interesting. So happy you loved York x

Really enjoyed your video, thank you.Always loved York, fantastic atmosphere about the place, wherever you go..

So glad you enjoyed York Minster. It is a source of inspiration and wonder and creates memories to treasure. Come back soon. xx

Fantastic tour of the Minster guys. I enjoyed every minute!

Pleased you enjoyed York Minister. Yes it's correct they are always working on it. I was lucky enough to do a quick tour of the stone masons building as a kid. Super skilled craftsman that do pretty much most things by hand as they have been doing for centuries! I remember the great minister fire of the 80s. It was a fierce fire that the fire department did well in limiting the damage. Even though it was severe damage.

I'm a York resident and a lecturer at York St John University. Our graduation ceremonies are held in the Minster.

I love York and have visited it many times. The Minster is beautiful but it is one of many minsters and cathedrals to be found in the UK. Most of which are HUGE.

I'm so glad that you two actually went inside York Minster - it is a magnificant place. I've only visited a couple of times, but never went down to the Crypt - so thank you for that. You mentioned pipe organs and 'mosaics'. If you 'google it' there are very many fine examples of both in your great country - although (for obvious reasons) their histories' can't go back that far! The National Shrine in Washington DC (in this context relatively new) has really impressive artwork/mosaics - and a fine pipe organ (though less aesthetically pleasing)! Thank you both for your great content - and for keeping any form of 'politics'/'political opinion' out of your uploads! Best wishes to you and your family! Tony, UK .

I find Medieval cathedrals fascinating. They would take hundreds of years to complete, so the people who laid the foundation stones never got to see the final result. Their scale is such that, from when they were first imagined, through to the present day, building work has been continuous, so the Minster has been a building site for about 800 years.

I love your videos and your enthusiasm. I'm from Yorkshire and I learnt a lot about York Minster watching this.

York and Hull were the last two places we visited pre-pandemic. We went to the York Minster for evensong, so we got to sing in the Choir Room.

Great tour! Well done!

Really glad you guy's had chance to visited the Minster. Me and Jay was a little gutted when it closed early the day before. If you have chance to come back to you know know where we are give us a shout. It would be great to show you around the city again and show more Viking and Roman stuff. To our favorite American couple and friends from your Yorkshire mate's Laura & Jay Errity. x

I find it interesting in York that they have painted quite a few of the sculptures. It gives a sense of how bright and gaudy the cathedral would have been, where we’re used to something more austere these days. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Whenever I go in the cathedral local to me I see something new, but I can’t see it with the completely fresh eyes you have.

Glad you enjoyed York i live just outside of York.

Awesome video as usual guys. What I love about your videos is that you actually go and do things wherever you visit and you get fully immersed in the location. I've been watching a few videos recently from other American travellers visiting the UK and although they are still interesting (as its always intriguing to find out what foreigners make of your own country) they mostly seem to pend their time walking around everywhere and viewing things from a distance. I hope you make a return visit to the UK in the next few years. We're only a tiny island but there's still stacks more stuff for you to explore 🙂

Thanks to your video, we have decided to drive up and spend the day in York this Monday. 👍

It's nice that you appreciate the historical buildings in England. If you have any English ancestors then these buildings are an important part of your history too. For all Americans, I think they are part of the cultural history of your country. Enjoy!

So many great memories of York Minster. Being in a choir, we used to visit a cathedral each year and sing the daily services for the week, while the cathedral choir were on holiday. We visited York Minster many times and it holds wonderful memories, not least the eerie silence after evening rehearsals in the Minster when all the visitors had left and only a few lights were left on. Fantastic!

Well done and very good editing , keep this going and you will soon have fellow Americans asking for your advice

Our sons graduation was held there. It is truly amazing. I think there was a fire in the 1980s as well.

I remember going on a school trip to York from junior school - I think we made some rubbings of the stones in the minster - not sure if they were grave stones - even as a child I've always loved history and old buildings imagining all the people who've walked here before us 🥰 I'm going to Greece again next month I can't wait to see more old ruins and churches 🇬🇷

Loved this video. Yes, mediaeval stone and wood carvings in the old cathedrals, minsters and churches are absolutely fascinating. In the less prominent places the carvers usually had the freedom to add their own idiosyncratic carvings, which might or might not have been religious. Looking at the carvings on choir stalls in old churches across Europe you quite often get the impression the carvers were caricaturing local people. And the gargoyles are quite often pretty lewd. It gives you a feeling of having jumped right into the irreverent Canterbury Tales.

The part where you can see the rose window is the side of the Minster that burned down in the early eighties, the roof was completely destroyed but they managed to save the window. I went there in the nineties and the work of restoring it was amazing you would never of known it just looks cleaner, plus they did put a few modern bosses up on the ceiling ( the faces and foliage carvings on the crossbeams) beautiful place always worth a visit if you can.

I'm glad you took the time to appreciate the details of the minster and York itself. I think your overall trip around the UK shows why most Brits will say " don't just do London". I also realise though that there is much to do in London as well and that you are on a tight schedule regarding time. I hope you do manage to visit again, I feel next time you will be better equipped with the knowledge to better tailor your trip. Great job to you both .

That was really good coverage in such a short time.

The minster suffered a major fire to the south transept in 1984 and took many years to rebuild which is highly skilled work

Great video ! We were last at the Minster in 2019 but didnt get time to go inside. However, if we can get back there next year will definitely do it having seen this ! 👌👍

I love York, but I haven't visited the Minster since I was 11 (in 2000). However, your video was so informative and interesting I might have to finally visit it again! Enjoying all your videos and seeing Britain through fresh eyes.

Found this interesting to watch. I live in York and sometimes forget that there is so much history here. I've been in the Minster several times and always see something new. I've been up on the top and the views are something else! Just need to be super careful climbing the spiral staircases up and down. As you'd expect, they're very worn and uneven - and there's a lot of them too!

Last time that I was in the Minster (Some years ago) you could see the Roman sewers under the crypt, still carrying water as they have for 2,000 years!

I'm glad you liked York.Minster, I thought you would. We visited it years ago and found it stunning.

York Minster never fails to impress me, it's such an amazing building. Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. :)

I always tell people to put York #1 on their list when they go to England. Particularly if you like history. You wont regret it.

The Rose Window there was where I had my supernatural experience. 😯

The crypt is beautiful , fascinating ! Thanks for the video.

My city Peterborough has the fourth oldest cathedral in the uk! Nearly a 1000 years old and would have dominated the surrounding landscape for many miles, as we are on the edge of the fens. The fens are or were marshes that were drained all the way east to the wash estuary . It is all below sea level to but its the most fertile land in the uk to

A very Beautiful Video. You both looked really happy.