Selby Abbey

Many years ago I sang occasionally in the Abbey choir. The choir were quite good and achieved a high standard musically, and the setting in which they sang was quite glorious.
Selby Abbey is visible for literally miles around — the flat countryside round those parts makes it an instantly recognisable landmark in the area. I’m no expert in church architecture but the building always struck me as being a particularly beautiful example of its type — more like a Cathedral than a parish church.
Selby Abbey is still used as a church; I don’t know how the congregation is faring now as it’s a long time since I’ve been there but if there was any connection between the beauty of a church building and the spiritual health of its congregation then the good parishioners of Selby Abbey will continue to thrive for a long time to come.
If you’re in the area, it’s well worth a visit.

Selby as a whole has over the years been given a bad reputation by many. But amongst despite those complaints, despite the problems that are visible in some areas, noone can complain about the magnificent Abbey that stands in the centre of it.
Beautiful architecture inside and out ensure that it stands with held head high even up against the much larger York Minster. I highly recommend a Bank Holiday visit as quite often the main tower is open to visiters. The view from the top is fantastic especially on a clear day and well worth the walk up all those stairs!

Founded by Benedict in 1069, and further build by the De Lacy noble Norman family originating from Lassy, Selby Abbey is one of the very few surviving abbey churches of the medieval period. Selby Abbey is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin and St Germain. Being build by a Norman family one expects the tower to be Norman, but the eastern end is decorated in a Gothic style, and the west front a mixture of Norman, Gothic and Victorian. Like many Abbey’s and Minsters, Selby Abbey boasts it own colourful past. Particularly damaged during the 17^th century and then the great fire of 1906, the Abbey now finds its self benefiting from extensive restoration that ensures its status as one of the most impressive abbey’s in the country.
I would recommend the inspiring atmosphere, the beautiful stain glass and architecture and the quite daunting climb up the tower if you are brave enough!

Many of the abbeys made redundant after the dissolution became cathedrals (if they were in the right place) or were pulled down (if they were not). Selby Abbey survived as the town’s parish church — thus endowing this modest, Yorkshire market town with one of the largest and most splendid parish churches in the UK.
Built on the scale of a cathedral, the church was begun shortly after the Norman conquest, and much of the present interior dates from this period. The nave arcade piers are pure Norman romanesque, the style derived from those in Durham Cathedral. The nave was completed in the Early English gothic style, but the chancel dates from the decorated period of gothic, in the 13^th and early 14^th centuries, and is a particularly rich example of this period.
The great East Window is also of the decorated period, and contains its original mediaeval glass, depicting a tree of Jesse. More 14^th century glass contains the coat of arms of the Washington family — stars and stripes — later used as the model for the US flag.
From the outside, the church is beautifully composed, set amongst lawns and trees, with its strict cruciform plan and high central tower complimented by twin west towers. The whole setting is delightful.