It was 40 years ago that York Minster was set ablaze in the middle of the night. Flames ripped through the roof of the South Transept and firefighters decided the only way to save the cathedral from total destruction was to let the roof collapse.
The fire was blamed on a lightning bolt striking the roof, but the disaster was shrouded in mystery. The lightning seemed to come out of a clear night sky, and lightning conductors fitted to the roof should have given protection. Some people said it was a divine bolt from the blue following controversial remarks about Christianity by the Bishop of Durham, the Right Rev David Jenkins, three days beforehand.
Similar seemingly significant incidents have occurred elsewhere. In February 2013, the roof of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome was hit by lightning just hours after the Pope had announced his resignation. And in July 2012, lightning hit the University of York during a General Synod meeting to discuss ordaining female bishops, prompting claims of divine retribution.
Tests on the York Minster fire concluded it was almost certainly caused by lightning striking a metal electrical box inside the roof. But the mystery remained over how lightning struck as the night sky above the cathedral was clear, although distant lightning bolts had been seen earlier. Lightning is known sometimes to travel sideways over several miles, appearing to strike out of thin air.
Alternatively, it may have been a positively charged lightning bolt, a more powerful and dangerous discharge than usual negative lightning strikes. When thunderstorms end and all their negative charges have been exhausted, a pool of positive charges can be left hanging in the air, even after the thundercloud has gone. The positive charges can then suddenly discharge in one huge lightning bolt, sometimes causing great damage.
Advertisement
The South Transept was eventually restored after more than four years’ work at a cost of £2.25 million. A service of commemoration will take place at York Minster on the anniversary of the fire today, July 9, and an exhibition, Out of the Ashes, is also open, telling the story of the blaze.
