Saint William (☩ 8 June 1154). Archbishop Of York (Twice). Confessor. Feast Day 8 June. White Vestments. A Tale Of Mayhem, Political Intrigue, Suspicion Of Murder, Plotting, Envy, Hate. Good Job We Don't Have That Now. (Part Seven).

Mediæval carved plaque showing Saint William of York crossing the River Ouse. The Bridge collapses, but no-one dies.

Photo: 20 February 2010.

Source: 

Originally posted to Flickr as 

Saved from the Ouse.

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Author: Katy Stuart.

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Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
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It remained as a functional Chapel until 1550. The Chapel was removed during the renovation of the Bridge between 1810 and 1818.[30]

The earliest Shrine to Saint William in York Minster dates to the 1220s, in which William’s Sarcophagus was buried ten inches (twenty-five centimetres) into the floor and a Shrine structure erected above it — this left the lid of the Sarcophagus proud of the structure to be accessible to Pilgrims.

In 1284, Bishop Bek paid for the Translation of William’s body to a new Shrine in the Choir behind the High Altar: No trace of the Shrine has been recorded.[31]

Saint William of York:

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A Tomb Shrine was built around 1330 on the site of William’s original burial place in the Eastern-most Bay of the Nave. 

The latest, principal, Shrine, located near the Minster’s High Altar, was built in 1471 — 1472.[32]

There is no evidence of large scale Pilgrimage to William’s Shrines.[32] However, numerous Panels from the Stained-Glass Windows in the Minster depict Petitioners and Worshippers at the Shrines.[33] 

The upper face of William’s Sarcophagus has been worn smooth, probably from the hands of Pilgrims touching it.[31]

In 1541, the Privy Council ordered the demolishing of all of the Shrines in York Diocese. William’s Shrines were taken apart and buried at Precentor's Court. 

Fragments of the Shrines were discovered during the 18th-Century and onwards. The Sarcophagus containing William’s remains was rediscovered in 1732 and again in 1968.[32] 

His remains are now held in a Shrine in the Crypt of York Minster.[34] Parts of the Shrines are in the Yorkshire Museum.[35] 

During celebrations of the 800th Anniversary of William’s Canonisation in 2026, these Shrine pieces were put on display at York Minster alongside a digital recreation of the Shrine.[36]

This concludes the Article on Saint William of York.