The word nave comes from a Latin word 'navis' meaning 'ship'. Although you can't see beyond the ceiling, if you were to go into the roof space you would see a lot of timber supporting the lead on the roof. The same structure is used in building the hull of a ship - but upside down.
As you enter you are immediately struck by the sheer scale of the building which took over 200 years to build starting in the late 12th century. It replaced a Norman building which was damaged by fire. The earliest building on this site was a Saxon chapel used by the monks of a monastery founded by John, Bishop of York.
What you see today reflects the development of Gothic architecture in three styles which are represented by the colour coding on your plan. The Early English style of the Quire was followed by the Decorated style in the nave and the Perpendicular style at the west end.
The site on which the Minster stands has been a place of prayer and praise to God for over 1,300 years.
As you stand at the nave crossing you may like to use this reflection from the prophet Jeremiah:
"Stand at the cross-roads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
