Selby - Selby Abbey

Selby´s origins date from the establishment of a Viking settlement on the banks of the River Ouse. It is believed that Selby originated as a settlement called Seletun, which was referred to in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of AD 779.

Selby Abbey was founded by Benedict of Auxerre in 1069 and subsequently built by the de Lacy family. Archbishop Walter Giffard visited the monastery in 1275 by commission, and several monks and the abbot were charged with a list of faults including loose living: many complaints referred to misconduct with married women. Just four years later Archbishop William de Wickwane made a visitation, and found fault with the abbot as he did not observe the Rule of Saint Benedict. Things had not improved much in 1306 when Archbishop William Greenfield visited, and similar visitations in later years resulted in similar findings.

The community rebuilt the choir in the early 14th century, but in 1340 a fire destroyed the chapter house, dormitory, treasury and part of the church. The damage was repaired and the decorated windows in the south aisle of the nave were installed.

In 1380 there were the abbot and twenty-five monks. In 1393 Pope Boniface IX granted an indulgence to pilgrims who contributed to the conservation of the chapel of the Holy Cross in the abbey.

Between 1069 and 1539, the year of the dissolution of the English monasteries under King Henry VIII, there were 34 abbots, many of whom made structural alterations. The church is built on sandy ground and has suffered from subsidence. Many areas collapsed in the 17th century, but these were rebuilt. Between 1871 and 1873, the church was restored. Further damage was caused by a fire in 1906.

St Germain Window contains 46 scenes from the life and legend of the saint, to whom, the abbey was once dedicated.

It was formerly filled with medieval glass, for which in 1631 a sum of £12,000 was offered in order that it might be taken to Continental Europe. However, the offer was refused, but then during later wars and fights the glass was destroyed, a small portion only being left, which is now the bottom fragment of the middle light of the sixth window.

Until 1914 the window had plain, white glass in, but in 1914 the present glass was inserted