Saint Peter Factsheet 6
York Minster has been dedicated to St Peter ever since its foundation in AD 627. It was believed that Peter became the bishop of Rome prior to his martyrdom there. In other words, he was perceived as the first Pope. Although the majority of Northumbrians were pagan in 627, there were undoubtedly a number of native Celtic Christians in the area too, who paid little heed to the authority of Rome. Bishop Paulinus who led the mission to Northumbria, was of the Roman tradition, and may well have chosen Peter as the symbol of papal authority. Who was Peter? Peter’s real name was Simon, but Jesus nicknamed him
kephas, an Aramaic word meaning “rock”. However since the New Testament was written in Greek, this was written as
Petros hence Peter. Jesus said:”….and upon this rock I shall build my church…”(Matthew 16 v18.) and this inevitably bolstered the tradition that he was the first pope. Jesus went on to offer him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and keys have been used to represent him ever since. Actually, there is no strictly biblical evidence to link Peter with Rome at all, but the tradition that he died there is so ancient and so strong that it is probably true. According to legend, the Romans wanted to crucify him, but he asked for his cross to be turned upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same way as Jesus. The image of Peter being crucified appears in three windows in the Minster. Peter was the foremost of the twelve disciples. In the gospels, he comes over as a man of action and a natural leader. Like his brother, Andrew, he was a fisherman, so fish, nets and boats are also associated with him.
Despite
his
vigorous
support for Jesus, it was Peter who denied knowing Jesus during the night of his arrest. Inevitably the cockerel that crowed after Peter’s three denials has also become one of his symbols. However following the resurrection Peter went on to become a teacher and leader of the early Church, thus justifying the trust that Jesus had placed in him. Produced by York Minster Centre for School Visits © Dean & Chapter of York 2006
Saint Peter Factsheet 6
By the time the present Minster was under construction, St Peter and St Paul were often regarded as a pair. They were both giants of the early church, and there is no doubt at all that St Paul ended his days in Rome. They both appear on the huge boss in the middle of the vaulting of the Central Tower, and share a common feast day , June 29th. This has led some to suggest that the medieval Minster had a double dedication but the documentary evidence does not support this.
St Peter and St Paul roof boss
Peter was an Apostle; in other words a missionary. Like Paul he wrote a number of epistles (letters) to the scattered Christian communities of the Near East. He probably wrote many such letters, but only two of the surviving examples are thought to be absolutely authentic and these are included in the New Testament.
Doubtless there were many statues of St Peter in the Medieval building. They even claimed to have a flask of “holy liquid” from his body! But such things were swept away at the Reformation. Today there are just two statues of our patron inside the Minster; a stone figure on a pedestal between the Great West Doors, and an even smaller wooden one over the font in the Crypt. The stone version dates only from 1906 and the font-cover from 1946.
St Peter appears in the stained glass windows again and again. Perhaps the finest example is in the Pilgrimage Window in the north Nave aisle. He sits enthroned in splendour, wearing a papal tiara and holding a very large key. In his other hand he holds a church representing the “Universal Church” built on Peter’s foundation.
Produced by York Minster Centre for School Visits © Dean & Chapter of York 2006