St. William’s College York

In the 14th and 15th Centuries it became popular for the wealthy to found chantries. A benefactor would leave money or property to pay for a priest, who every day would say mass for his soul and the souls of his wife, their family and anyone else they mentioned in the deed of foundation. They would also pay for the building of the chantry. Most chantries were built into an already existing church, which gives us chantry chapels.

St. William's College was originally built to provide accommodation for chantry priests, who were attached to chapels in York Minster.   The college was founded in 1460 by George Neville, Archbishop of York and his brother Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick, to house twenty-three chantry priests.  Henry VI had granted the license for the college in 1457 but work was postponed by the beginning of the Wars of the Roses.  Edward IV renewed the licence in 1461. 

Building work started in 1465 but it is thought that there were already buildings on the site, some of which were incorporated into the new buildings.  St. William's was built as a courtyard structure. As well as providing accommodation, there was also a great hall, kitchens and a chapel.

The building is named after William Fitzherbert, who was appointed Archbishop of York in the 12th Century and Canonised in the 13th Century. He was also the great-grandson of William the Conqueror.

After the Dissolution and the Abolishment of Chantries, the building was divided up into apartments and rented to affluent citizens.  It then changed owners over the centuries and fell into disrepair.  It was Francis Green, who owned the Treasurers House in York, rescued St. William's from ruin.  He purchased the property in 1906 and restored it. He then sold it to the church in 1912, at a loss, and it ended up in the care of the Dean and Chapter of York Minster.