show the outside being repaired -- direct to this pic http://www.roman-britain.org/places/images/_york_minster_out.jpg
Traditionally the largest chapel in a gothic cathedral is dedicated to Mary and called the Lady Chapel. York's is centered in front of the Great East Window. Its 1923 altar screen (reredos) is dedicated to Queen Victoria and shows a colorful nativity scene complete with Magi (left) and shepherds (right).
Badly damaged by the 1829 fire, the Lady Chapel was not reopened for worship until 1883.
The ornate arch pictured below leads to All Saints Chapel past the statue on the right of Bishop Skirlaw of Durham who paid for the Great East Window on his right. Larger than a tennis court, the window cost 56 pounds but the bishop generously provided a 10 pound bonus. The contract called for no payment to its builder (John Thornton of Coventry) if the Dean and Chapter did not like the finished product. The bishop also appears among York historical figures in the bottom row of panels on the great window -- a bit of campaigning, perhaps, as he had been elected Archbishop of York by the Chapter, but Richard II blocked his ascension. (To see the Great East Window from the outside before the repair work started, click here.)
