Selby Abbey
Encyclopedia
Selby Abbey is an Anglican parish church
in the town of Selby
, North Yorkshire
.
churches of the medieval period, and, although not a cathedral
, is one of the biggest. It was founded by Benedict of Auxerre in 1069 and subsequently built by the de Lacy
family.
, the church rests on a base of sand and has suffered from subsidence. Many sections collapsed entirely during the 17th century, and further serious damage was done by a fire of 1906 which melted the bells in the central tower. Nevertheless, extensive rebuilding and refurbishment has made the church one of the most impressive in the country. The tower is Norman
, but the eastern end is in Decorated Gothic style, and the west front a mixture of Norman, Gothic and Victorian
.
The interior bears some similarity to that of Durham Cathedral
, on which the design was modelled. Richly-carved and moulded capitals are found throughout the church. A major feature is the east window, which contains original medieval glass and depicts the Tree of Jesse
, a popular subject of that period. The chancel stonework is thought to have been designed by Henry Yevele
.
A notable feature of the abbey is the 14th century Washington Window, featuring the heraldic arms of the ancestors of George Washington
, the first president of the United States. The design featuring three red stars above two red bands on a white shield is said to have been the model for the US flag, and is the model for the flag of the District of Columbia.
was completed at a cost of £795,000. The £400,000 cost of restoring the South Choir Aisle and the 'Washington Window' was met in full by British American Tobacco
. World Monuments Fund
committed more than $800,000 to exterior work, including roof repairs, beginning in 2002.
in 1906 but was soon afterwards destroyed by the fire.
A new organ was built by William Hill dating from 1909, with restorations by Hill, Norman and Beard in 1950 and John T. Jackson in 1975.
The Bishop of Selby
is a Suffragan Bishop to the Archbishop of York
and is head of the Archdeaconry of York.
Selby Abbey is one of twenty members of the Greater Churches Group
.
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
in the town of Selby
Selby
Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
.
Background
It is one of the relatively few surviving abbeyAbbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
churches of the medieval period, and, although not a cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
, is one of the biggest. It was founded by Benedict of Auxerre in 1069 and subsequently built by the de Lacy
De Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
family.
Architecture
Like York MinsterYork Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
, the church rests on a base of sand and has suffered from subsidence. Many sections collapsed entirely during the 17th century, and further serious damage was done by a fire of 1906 which melted the bells in the central tower. Nevertheless, extensive rebuilding and refurbishment has made the church one of the most impressive in the country. The tower is Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
, but the eastern end is in Decorated Gothic style, and the west front a mixture of Norman, Gothic and Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
.
The interior bears some similarity to that of Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
, on which the design was modelled. Richly-carved and moulded capitals are found throughout the church. A major feature is the east window, which contains original medieval glass and depicts the Tree of Jesse
Tree of Jesse
The Tree of Jesse is a depiction in art of the Ancestors of Christ, shown in a tree which rises from Jesse of Bethlehem, the father of King David; the original use of the family tree as a schematic representation of a genealogy...
, a popular subject of that period. The chancel stonework is thought to have been designed by Henry Yevele
Henry Yevele
Henry Yevele was the most prolific and successful master mason active in late medieval England. The first document relating to him is dated 3 December 1353, when he purchased the freedom of London...
.
A notable feature of the abbey is the 14th century Washington Window, featuring the heraldic arms of the ancestors of George Washington
Coat of arms of George Washington
The coat of arms of George Washington, President of the United States of America from 1789 to 1797, were first used to identify the family in the twelfth century, when one of George Washington's ancestors took possession of Washington Old Hall, then in County Durham, in North East England.The...
, the first president of the United States. The design featuring three red stars above two red bands on a white shield is said to have been the model for the US flag, and is the model for the flag of the District of Columbia.
Restoration
The Abbey is currently undergoing an extensive restoration, costing several million pounds. Stage 6, the restoration of the ScriptoriumScriptorium
Scriptorium, literally "a place for writing", is commonly used to refer to a room in medieval European monasteries devoted to the copying of manuscripts by monastic scribes...
was completed at a cost of £795,000. The £400,000 cost of restoring the South Choir Aisle and the 'Washington Window' was met in full by British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
. World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund is a private, international, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training....
committed more than $800,000 to exterior work, including roof repairs, beginning in 2002.
Organ
A new organ was built by John ComptonJohn Compton (organ builder)
John Compton , born in Newton Burgoland, Leicestershire, was a pipe organ builder. His business based in Nottingham and London flourished between 1902 and 1965.-Life:...
in 1906 but was soon afterwards destroyed by the fire.
A new organ was built by William Hill dating from 1909, with restorations by Hill, Norman and Beard in 1950 and John T. Jackson in 1975.
Organists
- Edward Johnson Bellerby 1878 - 1881 (afterwards organist of Holy Trinity Church, MargateMargate-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
) - Frederick William Sykes ca. 1893 - 1912 - ????
- Herbert Hill ca. 1921
- Henry Oswald Hodgson ???? - 1922? (afterwards organist of St. Mary's Church, NottinghamSt. Mary's Church, NottinghamThe Church of St Mary the Virgin is the oldest religious foundation in the City of Nottingham, England, the largest church after the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the largest mediæval building in Nottingham....
) - Walter Hartley 1922 - 1949 - ????
- David Gedge 1962 - 1966
- Mervyn John Byers 1966 - 1976 (previously at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, Australia.)
- Peter Seymour - 1976 - 1978
- Dr Anthony Langford 1978 - 1981
- Mervyn John Byers - 1980 - 1987
- Geoffrey Pearce - 1987 - 1996 Previously Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Andrew's Cathedral, AberdeenSt Andrew's Cathedral, AberdeenSt Andrew's Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, is a cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen...
(Episcopal) from 1974 - Roger Tebbet - 1996 -
Bishop of Selby
Bishop of Selby
The Bishop of Selby is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of York, in the Province of York, England. The title takes its name after the town of Selby in North Yorkshire. The Bishop of Selby is responsible for the Archdeaconry of York.-List of the Bishops...
is a Suffragan Bishop to the Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
and is head of the Archdeaconry of York.
Selby Abbey is one of twenty members of the Greater Churches Group
Greater Churches Group
The Greater Churches Network is a self-help organisation within the Church of England. There are currently 32 churches within the Greater Churches Network....
.