York Minster Library Parish Magazine Collection

Parishes magazines, newsletter and service sheets from approx. 88 parishes in the modern Archdeaconry of York.
For more details, see box list.

York Minster Library was founded with forty volumes bequeathed by Canon John Newton in 1414. By 1536, the library consisted of 193 books, many of which could be borrowed, but the Reformation led to the loss of many 'Catholic' books and manuscripts. In 1628, it was transformed by the benefaction of 3,000 volumes from Archbishop Tobie Matthew’s widow; this collection still forms the core of the Old Library. Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries acquisitions continued to be made. By 1800 the original forty volumes had become over six thousand and were re-housed in the thirteenth-century Archbishops’ Chapel shortly after.
Today the Library contains about 120,000 books and is recognised as an important cathedral library.

Arranged alphabetically by parish

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The archive was transferred to the Borthwick Institute in 2017 by the librarian.

York Minster Library was founded with forty volumes bequeathed by Canon John Newton in 1414. By 1536, the library consisted of 193 books, many of which could be borrowed, but the Reformation led to the loss of many 'Catholic' books and manuscripts. In 1628, it was transformed by the benefaction of 3,000 volumes from Archbishop Tobie Matthew’s widow; this collection still forms the core of the Old Library. Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries acquisitions continued to be made. By 1800 the original forty volumes had become over six thousand and were re-housed in the thirteenth-century Archbishops’ Chapel shortly after.
Today the Library contains about 120,000 books and is recognised as an important cathedral library.

A digital finding aid, to file level, is available upon request

Created by R. Denton, 04.01.18

A reprographics service is available to researchers. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

The collection has been weeded for duplicates.
Consider checking against existing parish magazines in the parish records and de-duplicating

York Minster Library requested past and present editions of parish magazines from all parishes in the modern Archdeaconry of York. The resulting collection was housed at York Minster Library, and regularly added to until 2013.

Further accruals are not expected

Other records relating to these parishes can be found in the Parish Records (PR) collection within the Borthwick.

Published

GB 193