The magnificent abbey church at Byland was completed c. 1190. This
was not, however, the original design, for the community began
a smaller and much less complex design in the 1150s, but abandoned
this in the 1160s to start afresh. The result was a spectacular
and innovative building, which was impressive for its size, scale
and the quality of masonry used. It has been described as the most
ambitious Cistercian church in Europe at this time. The east end
of the church was the first part to be built, which meant that
when the community arrived in 1177, the presbytery and monks’ choir
could be used for the celebration of the Divine
Office. Thereafter
the nave and west end were finished and the entire church was complete
c. 1190.(5) The construction of
a building of this magnitude and magnificence required outside
labour, and there is reference to
a certain Godwin,
who was the master mason at this time (cementarius).(6)
It is interesting
to ask why the community began to build a rather modest church
at Byland and then, some ten years later, abandoned
this for a much more elaborate and grand design. There are various
possible reasons for this change in direction. Firstly, the monks
may initially have favoured speed over innovation, or perhaps the
arrival of a new master mason with fresh ideas wrought a change
in plan. The most likely explanation is seemingly related to the
death of Aelred of Rievaulx in 1167, and it is perhaps not merely
a coincidence that this occurred about the time when this new and
grandiose construction was begun. Aelred would have been responsible
for visiting Byland to oversee construction work here, and to make
sure that the building was in accordance with Cistercian ideals.
It is hard to believe that Aelred would have authorised a construction
as elaborate and ambitious as the twelfth-century church at Byland
proved to be, yet his successor, Silvan, would have been much more
sympathetic to these plans. It is thus possible that Aelred’s
death offered an opportunity to embark on a much more elaborate
and magnificent building programme, which was sanctioned by the
new visitor, Silvan, who shared Roger of Byland’s enthusiasm
for French architecture. Ultimately, as the exact dates of the
construction and completion of the church are not known, these
can only be hypotheses.