How do you share the story of a 12th-century saint with a 21st-century audience? You bring in The History Magpie!

2026 marks the 800th anniversary of the canonisation of St William of York, a figure who inspired devotion both in life and in death, though not without a little turbulence along the way…

As part of our celebrations, we invited social media influencer Charlie Eve, also known as The History Magpie, to York Minster to help unlock the story of St William for a whole new audience. This collaboration helps us to amplify the presence of St William by sharing our patron saint’s story with a combined Instagram audience of more than 173,000 people – and that’s just on one platform!

In the first of this three‑part video series, Charlie, alongside Dr Jennie England Research Coordinator at York Minster, not only introduces us to St William of York, but also highlights the significance of the return of his shrine fragments, on loan from York Museums Trust. He also sheds light on the incredible legacy that this saint inspired.

Watch the next instalment of this video series here: Unlocking St William’s Story: Inside the Stonemason’s Workshop.