A Norman Minster was built but there was a big fire in 1188 which affected the eastern part of the Romanesque church and the decision was taken to completely rebuild the Minster in the new 'pointed' style. The east end and eastern transepts were completed by c 1206, the main transepts before c 1220. Later, the canons decided to extend the tower over the eastern crossing with a superstructure above roof level. This fell after 1214 causing damage to the retrochoir and eastern transepts which had to be rebuilt. The replacement roof timbers date to 1234-59, and the high altar was re-dedicated in 1261.

Still in use in the S nave aisle is the magnificent Frosterley marble font, dating from the second half of the twelfth century, with a celebrated wooden canopy of 1726.

Bede, in his history of the English, records some miracles of John of Beverley, bishop of York, relayed to him by those who had known the saint. John died in 721 and ‘was buried in Saint Peter’s porch in his own monastery of In-Derawuda’ [supposed to be Beverley] which he had founded and to which he had retired. Pre-Viking Anglo-Saxon building foundations have been excavated, and the so-called frith stool is preserved near the main altar. This could well first have been the bishop’s chair from an apsed east end with seating arranged on the early Christian model. A later church was re-established by King Athelstan in 937 as a collegiate Minster; John was canonised in 1037 and the tomb and his church became a pilgrimage centre. The church also had a grant of sanctuary which was in use some 600 years. A Norman Minster was built, but there was a big fire in 1188, presumably affecting the tower and eastern parts, these being rebuilt c.1220-60. The early 12thc. nave seems to have been largely intact until the 14thc., when it was taken down and some of its stones re-used in the new nave (Hall, 1973, 8).

The manor of Beverley belonged to the Archbishop until 1542; it was latterly held by the Wartons whose family memorials are in the easternmost part of the present building.

Chevron voussoirs at upper level

Bilson thinks these voussoirs almost certainly originated from the nave arcades of the Romanesque church. He thinks ‘it will not be disputed that this chevron cannot be later than 1130, however much earlier it may be’ (Bilson 1893, 20). However, Morris & Cambridge (1989, 15-16), think this is an ‘unduly narrow’ date, and suggest between 1120 and about 1160. From Bilson’s description the work sounds comparable to that of the doorway reset at St Mary’s, and so very likely of the date he suggests. The description could also apply to a chevron order on the blocked W doorway at Goodmanham, and also well within the first half of the twelfth century. John Bilson identified the stone used for these remnants, and for 13thc. work, as being oolitic limestone from the Newbald area (1893, 20-21).

Font

An imposing font by any standards, local comparisons being the battered bowl in Purbeck marble at Pocklington and, for structure, the fonts at Great Driffield or North Newbald.

Some carved work has been found in excavations, for example, at the Lurk Lane and Dominican Priory sites, corbels were found which may (or may not) have come from the Minster, now held in the Hull and East Riding Museum.