York |
St Michael le Belfrey occupies a broad plot on the southern side of Minster Yard, immediately
alongside the Minster itself. Saxon burials in Petergate suggest that a church existed on this
site as early as the eighth century. One certainly existed by 1294 and was controlled by the
Minster's Dean and Chapter for several hundred years. The present church dates from 1525-1536,
and 'le Belfrey' refers either to the Minster belfry or to the older church which probably
had a bell tower. The church was a rebuild, although how much of the old fabric remained is uncertain, resulting mixed Gothic and Renaissance styles. It remains the largest parish church in the city, originally serving a wealthy community of merchants and craftsmen. Guy Fawkes was baptised here in 1570. The 1848 bell tower is a replica of the earliest known tower, first shown in 1705. The west front was fully restored in 1867 after houses attached to the church were demolished. [The History Files] |
The Church of St. Michael Le Belfrey is located at OS Grid Ref. SE6027752131
Find nearby Churches in the Genuki Church database
Show a list ordered by distance
Show churches plotted on a map
If you have an interest in Church Architecture, please see Phil Draper's "Church Crawler" pages.