The wraps came off and Constantine the Great, or at least a huge bronze statue of him, got his first glimpse of York Minster.

Peering back were crowds of onlookers who had gathered to be among the first to witness the sculpture of the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity - turning it into a global religion.

The statue of Constantine, on the spot in what is now Minster Yard where he was proclaimed Roman Emperor in 306AD, was unveiled by Lord Coggan, a former Archbishop of York and Canterbury.

Describing the project to bring about the sculpture as an "operation in co-operation" between York Civic Trust and other bodies, Lord Coggan said: "It has always been strange that there is no visible mark between Constantine and this great city."This has now been righted."

John Shannon, chairman of the trust, which commissioned the £78,000 work, paid tribute to the enthusiasm and "tremendous imagination" of its sculptor, Philip Jackson.

He said: "He managed to produce a statue so rich in detail and correct in detail that I am not the slightest bit worried about anyone telling us we have got it wrong."

And the work went down well with the sizeable crowd of onlookers, who gasped when the covers came off.

Audrey Jones, of London, said: "I think it is magnificent - a fine piece of work and very powerful. His face is so human, so believable."

Joyce Park, of St George's Place, off The Mount, York, said: "I think it is excellent and much better than I thought it would be. It is not arrogance, but leadership I see in that face."

The Rev Raymond Dent, a vicar on sabbatical in York from Willaston, in Cheshire, said: "I had no idea there would be so much detail. He certainly looks the part.

"It will be useful for school kids to come and hear how Christianity became an official religion."

Ruth Ostwad, from New York, said: "I came here to see the Minster and happened to come across this, and I'm very glad I did."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.