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Spirited plea to make country’s largest church a Minster
The country’s largest parish church should become a Minster to boost tourism and help regenerate Hull’s Old Town, according to a charity.
The call from City of Hull & Humber Environment Forum follows news that Leeds Parish Church is to reclaim an “ancient title” and become a Minster.
Minsters were popular in Anglo-Saxon England and are seeing a resurgence in popularity with churches in the north of England including Rotherham, Halifax and Grimsby, already designated.
CHEF says the move will help raise the profile of the Old Town - which has struggled since the opening of the St Stephen’s shopping centre - and promote tourism.
The charity says it would also recognise the wide range of architecturally and historic buildings it has to offer - something not always recognised outside the city.
Community Environment Officer Adam Fowler said: “This isn’t just about renaming a building it’s about where the city sees itself going in the future and how the past can help shape the future.
“Holy Trinity Church has been at the centre of the community for over 700 years so this would be a great honour for both for the church and city.
“It would also help to recognise the city as an important tourist and cultural destination - if Leeds can do it, why can’t we?”
Vicar Dr Neal Barnes said: “I attended the first urban Minster conference in Halifax last September and in a sense we tick all the boxes.
“If there is a groundswell of opinion, particularly from the council and other civic bodies, that they want us to seriously look at it, we will.
“I suppose it is a bit of a subtle debate; Holy Trinity is England’s largest parish church and since it is the largest you could argue maybe that it makes sense for us to stay as Holy Trinity parish church.”
Since Dr Barnes became vicar 17 months ago, the church has been on a mission to raise its profile and stem losses, which have been eating into its reserves.
He said the figures hadn’t been audited yet “but it looks like in 2011 although we are still making a loss, it is significantly lower than in 2010.
“We are definitely going in the right direction and that’s encouraging.
“I feel a bit better about it, but we can’t keep our eye off the ball.”
Hull Civic Society is putting in a renewed bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £40,000 to launch five new city heritage trails, using the 700-year-old church, described by historian Christopher Wilson as one of the greatest of the great medieaval parish churches in England, as one of the main hubs.
Chairman John Netherwood said the Minster idea was “tremendous” adding: “In many ways it is remarkable that it isn’t a Minster already in the same way as Beverley, Howden and Selby.”
The church, which has been a landmark for mariners since medieval times, has gained a much higher profile in the past year.
In April it will be the venue for Hull’s Real Ale and Cider Festival for the first time and will hold a service during the Sea Shanty Festival on July 22. It is also appointing a “pioneer” youth worker to work with students and younger people.
It will once again host a fashion show, as part of Hull Fashion Week in May.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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