Posted on: 5th February 2026

Visitors to York Minster can now see fragments of the medieval shrine of St William of York, in a new exhibition and cinematic experience, “St William: Life and Legacy”, which opened last week and runs throughout the year.

It is 800 years since the canonisation of St William, twice Archbishop of York. A cousin of King Stephen and popular with the people, he was first made Archbishop in 1141, a controversial appointment challenged by Cistercian monks.

He was deposed, appealed to the Pope, was reinstated, and performed his first miracle, calling on God to save the citizens who had come out to greet him — so many that the Ouse Bridge collapsed. The hagiography has it that, as he made the sign of the cross, his prayers were answered.

Three weeks later, he fell violently ill while celebrating mass, prophesied his own death, and died nine days later, on 8 June 1154. He was buried in the cathedral.

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