Welcome
Inspiring architecture; sacred space and a vibrant worshipping community make Selby Abbey the place it is today. Men, women and children have worshipped here and served the wider community for over 900 years. Selby is a small Yorkshire town, 12 miles South of York with one of the most superb Abbey churches to be found anywhere in England. The Abbey is not just a building it is a living and vibrant part of the local community yet provides space that allow the visitor and the worshipper alike to find peace, tranquillity and the very presence of God.
Throughout its long and turbulent history, the Abbey has undergone many changes and therefore never stands still. We look forward to welcoming you to this wonderful building and hope you will enjoy it for its history, its architecture and its space but above all for an encounter with God.
Visiting: We are open for all visitors (including sightseeing) from 10.00am to 4.00pm daily and the Gift and Coffee Shop is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm (1.30 to 3.00pm on Sundays). Visiting may be restricted during service times.
Worship: There are two services of Holy Communion on Sunday and two more during the week and a service of Evensong every Sunday as well as other opportunities for worship at the Abbey from time to time. For more information, please see below under “Services of Public Worship” or for any additions to these, under “Sunday Sheet”.
The 10.00am Sunday Service is usually available to view online. Contact the Abbey Office for the Youtube link.
The “Sunday Sheet” contains a weekly reflection, bible readings and prayers as well as notices about forthcoming events.
The Origins Project: your help is needed!
The following survey is intended for visitors and non-visitors to the Abbey. It will be live until Sunday 19th May.
You may be aware that we are currently preparing a £1.1 funding application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. If successful the project will undertake restoration around the north transept stonework and the St Germain stained glass window, interpret the monastic foundations of the Abbey, provide heritage-related activities at the Abbey and within our community, and create a small community garden in the Abbey grounds.
We have received initial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund which is allowing us to develop our plans before we submit a more detailed application. To help us inform the plans for activity and interpretation we would love to hear about your experiences at the Abbey, gather your ideas about how we can improve the visitor experience to Selby Abbey, and to find out, from you, how we might better engage with our local community.
Please help us by completing this questionnaire online through this link, or completing a paper version of the questionnaire which is available in the Abbey. Click here to download the survey for printing.
Thank you so much for your help. The deadline for completion is Sunday 19th May. Your support and input will help us to secure the funding we are seeking.
Click here for the visitor/non-visitor questionnaire: https://forms.office.com/e/w00ZzhTWpG
Donations Welcome
With your donation, we will continue to provide a welcoming, inspiring visitor experience to Selby Abbey. Maintaining free entry to the building, we will be able to develop on our 950 years of spiritual, cultural and economic support to the local community and for those further afield. We receive no direct financial support from the state or central church to preserve our historic building, and are therefore grateful for any donation you may be able to give to keep this magnificent Abbey at the heart of Selby both now and for future generations.
Guided Tours
Join one of our guided tours, free of charge, with donations welcome. They will last about 75 minutes and no booking is necessary, simply meet at the West Doors and one of our guides will show you the hidden gems of the Abbey. Dates and times can be found on the link below. Alternatively, you can contact us to book a bespoke tour at a time to suit you. We look forward to welcoming you soon.
Upcoming Events
ABBEY TOWER TOURS
Guided Tours of the Central Tower (including ringing room, clock room, bell room and the view from the top - weather permitting) Booking essential. £8 per person. (Minimum age = […]
Bank Holiday Craft Fair and Refreshments
Join us for our 2nd Bank Holiday Monday fair for 2024. The Abbey nave will be full of local, independent craft stall holders selling their wares and there will be […]
Ascension Day Sung Eucharist
A sung celebration of Holy Communion (Common Worship Book) with the Abbey Choir to mark Ascension Day. All Welcome.
