Howden Minster

2467 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

2014

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Husband

Reasons for trip

There has been a church here since Saxon times. After the Norman Conquest, it was gifted to William of Calais, Prince Bishop of Durham. It became a collegiate church and the Prince Bishops established a palace here, well away from the Scottish border in times of trouble. A splendid new Minster was built in the C13th in the latest Decorated or Gothic style.

The first senior canon at the Minster was John of Howden who was locally regarded as a saint after his death in 1275 and his tomb became an important place of pilgrimage. Howden grew in wealth and importance.

The Dissolution of the Monasteries removed the canons and revenues and the Prince Bishops abandoned their palace and the Minster. The townsfolk continued to use the nave as their parish church. They were unable to maintain the east end of the church which was bricked off and choir, chancel and chapter house were left to fall into ruin. These are now in the care of English Heritage and there is no entry into the ruins.

In 1929 there was a disastrous fire when arsonists forced their way into the tower. This destroyed all the woodwork. The new choir stalls, altar and communion rails were made by Robert Thompson of Kilburn (the Mouse Man).

Howden Minster is a splendid building, especially seen from the east end when the ruins frame the present Minster Building with its tall square tower.

Inside is a very tall nave with pillars and pointed arches separating nave and side aisles. At the back is an octagonal carved font with very tall wooden spire cover. The hour glass pulpit with sounding board is beautifully carved. In the north aisle are two old wooden strong chests.

The wooden altar is set in front of a carved stone screen with ogee canopies containing statues. A carved wooden parclose screen separates it from the side chapel in the north transept. The simple stone altar top was part of the original stone high altar from the ruined east end of the Medieval Minster. High on the wall to the north of the chapel is the Royal Coat of Arms.

Between the chancel and south transept is a rather nice doorway with carved stone surround and statues on either side, which presumably leads into the now ruined part of the church. The south transept contains stone memorials and the floor tomb of Sir Peter Saltmarsh who served in the army of Edward I. He is in armour with his shield and feet resting on a lion. Propped up against the wall is a memorial brass but there is no information about this. There is also the old parish bier with the parish coffin dating from 1664 which was used to carry a corpse to the graveyard wrapped in a woollen or linen shroud for burial.

This is a good church with plenty of hatchments and some good Victorian glass. It is worth a visit and is open daily. There is on street parking or a small car park near the Minster.

Howden is a delightful small town with a lot of shops around the busy market place with its tubs of flowers.

There are more pictures “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/yorkshire/east_riding/east_two/howden/index.html

Silver Travel Advisor

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.