St. Nicholas in York Minster Stained Glass

York Minster has one of the single largest collections, more than 100 windows, of medieval stained glass in Europe. This glass represents the best from the late twelfth century until the end of the 1500s. A number of panels represent the life and miracles of St. Nicholas of Myra, perhaps the most popular saint during the middle ages.

This window, one of the best preserved 12th century panels, represents the story of the dishonest borrower. The; glass is originally from Église Saint-Nicolas, Rouen, France, that was destroyed in 1840. It is the best-known of the Nicholas glass in York Minster.

The life of St. Nicholas of Myra is featured in Archbishop Greenfield's window dedicated to St. Nicholas. Panels in two rows show episodes from the life of St. Nicholas. The Archbishop was buried in St Nicholas' Chapel in 1315.

The window on the left, below, is in the St. Nicholas Chapel.
The glass in the center panel is originally from St Johns Ouse Bridge; the top portion shows St. Nicholas with three boys, along with two heads (lower portion is from St George & the dragon).
Right, Nicholas is one of three bishops in the Wolvenden window (ca. 1420) in the choir.

Three panels, shown below, are beneath the bishop, right above. They illustrate three Nicholas stories: a steward putting gold in bags for the dowry money, the cart running over the dishonest borrower, and the three boys resusitated in the tub.

Below, Chapter House window commemorates five saints, each in a light.
St Nicholas scenes: Reviving boys in tub; Dowry story; Calming the sea; Death of Nicholas.

Windows are identified by the Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi numbering system.

Photos: C Myers, St Nicholas Center, unless otherwise noted
Photos: © Gordon Plumb, Flickr. Used by permission.

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