Two Churches One Town

From whichever direction the East Riding of Yorkshire town of Beverley is approached, the twin towers of the Minster and the single tower of St Mary’s dominate the skyline. On summer evenings the sun casts a golden light on the rich coloured stone of these buildings, widely believed to be two of the finest Gothic churches in Europe. For nearly a thousand years these two churches have acted as beacons drawing the traveller and the pilgrim to the ancient market town of Beverley. Beverley Minster is the largest parish church in England and is equal to the greatest of our cathedrals; after Westminster Abbey (the twin towers of which it may have inspired), it is regarded as the most impressive ‘non-cathedral’ church in England. St Mary’s is often described as one of the most beautiful parish churches of England and of the highest quality. Today these two buildings are among the top places to visit in the East Riding attracting more than 60,000 visitors each year. They ‘bookend’ the town and between them they determined the layout, the character and the history of Beverley. Year by year voted one of the best places to live in the UK, Beverley is a stunning market town with cobbled streets, a popular racecourse, historic buildings, vibrant festivals and small-town charm. There is a thriving music scene and a new theatre whose patrons are Dame Judi Dench and Sir Mark Rylance. A visitor to the town can enjoy spectacular views from Westwood and the Yorkshire Wolds are on its doorstep – an inspiration for the artist David Hockney.