Parish of All Saints' Pavement

We stand before the Parish Church of All Saints' Pavement, one of the most historically significant ecclesiastical sites in York. Its name, 'Pavement,' refers to the fact that this area was the first part of the city to be paved,…

The most striking external feature of All Saints' Pavement is undoubtedly its octagonal lantern tower. Constructed in the 15th century, it is an architectural masterpiece of the Perpendicular Gothic style. …

All Saints' Pavement has historically been the official church of the city’s merchant guilds, particularly the Merchant Adventurers, whose magnificent hall is located nearby. In medieval York, the guilds held immense power,…

Among the many treasures of All Saints', the stained glass is perhaps the most profound. While much of York's glass was lost during the Reformation, this church retains pieces of exceptional quality. …

A particularly fascinating and somber aspect of the history of All Saints' involves the practice of anchorites—individuals who chose to be permanently walled into a small cell attached to the church to live a life of prayer and…

All Saints' Pavement is a bastion of the 'High Church' or Anglo-Catholic tradition within the Church of England. This means that the worship here places a strong emphasis on liturgy, sacraments, and the aesthetic beauty of the…

As a final stop in our interior tour, we must acknowledge the physical evidence of the site’s even deeper history. Like many of York’s ancient churches, All Saints' Pavement is built upon Roman foundations. …

As we depart from All Saints' Pavement, let us carry with us the image of the lantern tower, still standing tall above the streets of York. We have explored a site that is a microcosm of the city’s identity: a blend of civic…