Located in the heart of York, the building stands over part of the Roman city wall. And within the boundary of its churchyard, a fragment of cross-shaft was found built into a dwelling at Newgate – suggesting an early foundation.
Further hints of antiquity lie in its dedication – St Sampson’s church is the only church in the country dedicated to the eponymous Archbishop of York. St Sampson was supposedly installed by King Arthur’s uncle, Ambrosius Aurelianus, after repelling a force of Saxon invaders in AD 466.
The church is now a day centre for the city’s senior citizens.
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