Selby Abbey: £1m funding to preserve saintly origins and tale of three swans
Selby Abbey, one of Yorkshire’s most significant medieval landmarks, has been awarded £1 million in funding to help preserve its rich heritage, including the captivating legend of its origins involving a saint and three swans. A substantial part of this grant will be directed towards urgent repairs, including the conservation of the abbey’s iconic St Germain stained-glass window, which beautifully illustrates the abbey’s foundation story.
This significant award is part of a broader programme supporting places of worship across Yorkshire, with more than £1.8 million allocated to various projects over the past six months. The announcement comes alongside news that All Saints church in Hessle has secured £229,768 for its own heritage project, known as A Towering Presence, which aims to save the church’s historic 15th-century tower and reinvigorate it through community arts initiatives.
In Selby, Reverend John Weetman, vicar of the Abbey, described the funding as a “transformative” moment for the community. “This generous support will not only ensure that Selby Abbey is preserved for future generations but also allows us to deepen our engagement with the local community and visitors alike. Through this project, we can invite many more people to explore how the Abbey and the town came to be here, and how they evolved during their early medieval history,” he said.
The abbey, founded in 1069 as a Benedictine monastery, stands on a site steeped in legend. According to tradition, Benedict of Auxerre, a French monk, was inspired by a divine vision of St Germain instructing him to establish a monastery at ‘Selebiae’, a place to be marked by the appearance of three swans. The monk found his sign at a bend in the River Ouse, where three swans alighted upon the water, confirming the sacred location.
The story is immortalised in the abbey’s exquisite St Germain window, created in 1906, which depicts Benedict’s mission and the founding of the monastery. As part of the newly launched Origin Stories project, the window will undergo delicate restoration and will be the focal point of fresh interpretation materials designed to bring the tale to a wider audience. A series of engaging activities and events is planned to accompany the project, including craft workshops, monastic chant sessions, graffiti art, and community gardening, all aimed at connecting people with the abbey’s ancient roots.
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The Selby Abbey initiative is one of eight projects across Yorkshire to receive support from the latest round of National Lottery funding dedicated to heritage places of worship. Each project seeks to celebrate local stories while ensuring the buildings remain safe and accessible for future generations.
At Bulmer, near Malton, attention will turn to conserving the 14th-century tower of St Martin’s Church, while the community at Osbaldwick is set to record and share the oral history of St Thomas’ Church.
Meanwhile, Bradford Cathedral is embarking on an ambitious tapestry project designed to weave together the city’s storied past, particularly its role in the wool trade that shaped the district’s economy and identity.
Speaking of the new award for All Saints Hessle, Rev Gemma Turner said the funding would breathe new life into the church and its historic tower. “This isn’t just about preserving bricks and mortar; it’s about helping the whole community of Hessle engage with the history not only of the church but of the town itself,” she explained.
