Southwell - Southwell Minster

The earliest church on the site is believed to have been founded in 627 by Paulinus, the first Archbishop of York, when he visited the area while baptising believers.

In 956 King Eadwig gave land in Southwell to Oskytel, Archbishop of York, on which a minster church was established. The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded the Southwell manor. The Norman reconstruction of the church began in 1108, probably as a rebuilding of the Anglo-Saxon church. Many stones from this earlier Anglo-Saxon church were reused in the construction. Work on the nave began after 1120 and the church was completed by c.1150.

Southwell is where Charles I surrendered to Scottish Presbyterian troops in 1646 during the English Civil War. The fighting saw the church seriously damaged and the nave is said to have been used as stabling.

In 1711 the southwest spire was struck by lightning, and the resulting fire spread to the nave, crossing and tower destroying roofs, bells, clock and organ.  By 1720 repairs had been completed, now giving a flat panelled ceiling to the nave and transepts.

In danger of collapse, the spires were removed in 1805 and re-erected in 1879–81 when the minster was extensively restored. The nave roof was replaced with a pitched roof and the quire was redesigned and refitted.