A Few of My Favorite Things

With the countdown of our last week in York beginning, I thought I would try to capture some of the things we will miss.  We are looking forward to going home, seeing family and friends, and getting as ready for Christmas as is possible in five days (which will be helped greatly by my wonderful cookie exchange friends who decided to include me in the exchange even though I wasn't there to offer any cookies of my own). We have had a great time here in York - it is a special place with some unique experiences that we will miss.  First on my list: the York Minster.

Though the east end of the Minster is covered with scaffolding, there is still plenty of beautiful 12-14th century architecture to admire.  The York Minster is one of the largest Gothic churches in Europe and  has the largest collection of medieval stained glass in Britain.  John and I took a tour that explained the renovation work on the glass of the Great East Window, which is considered the 'crowning glory' of the Minster - it is amazing the painstaking work that goes into restoring each little piece of glass in the large expanse of  stained glass from the 1300s (it is the earliest known work of art by a named English artist). Guess we will have to come back in a few years when the restoration work is complete...below is my favorite window in the Minster that is visible: the 'Heart of Yorkshire' West Window.

But the best thing about the Minster has been Evensong - a choral service at 5:15 (every day but Monday  and 4:00 on Sunday).  We often went after class with students, but the most magnificent Evensong was this Advent Sunday - the "rejoice" Sunday. The organ music in particular was fantastic.

The organ and the choir (or 'quire') where Evensong takes place (no pictures allowed during the service, so I can't show the adorable choir boys from the Minster school).

Since the Archbishop of York is the Chancellor of York St. John University, they had their graduation ceremonies in the Minster and we will be attending the YSJ Christmas Carol concert there Wednesday night as well.