Hull Minster

Hull Minster is the Anglican minster and parish church of Kingston upon Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Until 13 May 2017 it was known as Holy Trinity Church. Today it is one of the city's most significant historic buildings and a natural starting point for exploring Hull's old centre.

What is Hull Minster, and why the name?

In the English tradition, "minster" is a title given to a church of special standing. This building received it on 13 May 2017, when the former name, Holy Trinity Church, was replaced. The building itself did not change: it still serves as the parish church of Hull, and the new name highlights its role in the life of the city and region.

How was the church built?

Its roots are medieval. It began as the Chapel of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, a chapel-of-ease to the parish church at nearby Hessle. Construction took place in phases from the late 13th to the early 16th century:

• the transepts date from around 1300–1320,
• the choir from around 1340–1370,
• the nave from around 1380–1420,
• the upper stages of the tower from around 1490–1520.

The work was probably funded by the people of Hull, whose prosperity grew through the wool trade. The transepts are known for their early brickwork, widely regarded as among the finest of its kind in the country.

Independence and a famous baptism

The Trinity Church Hull Act of 1661 separated the church from the parish of Hessle, receiving royal assent on 20 December that year. In 1759 William Wilberforce, the parliamentarian who campaigned against the slave trade, was baptized here. For anyone interested in the history of abolition, that is one more reason to visit.

Restoration and rebuilding

In the 18th century the brick walls were covered in stucco. Henry Francis Lockwood restored the church between 1842 and 1845 and removed it. From 1861 Sir George Gilbert Scott, one of the best-known architects of the Victorian era, directed further work. As a result, visitors today can read both the medieval brickwork and the traces of later repairs.

What to see and look out for

• The bulk of the church and its tower, prominent against the city centre.
• The brick transepts, which stand out among English historic buildings.
• The interior, where the successive building phases are readable, from the turn of the 14th century to the 15th and 16th.
• The surrounding old town of Hull, easy to combine with a walk.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hull Minster the same as Holy Trinity Church? Yes. Until 13 May 2017 the church was called Holy Trinity Church; since then it has been Hull Minster.

Where is Hull Minster? In central Kingston upon Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, at roughly 53.74 N, 0.33 W.

When was it built? Over a long period, from around 1300 to the early 16th century, with further restoration in the 19th century.

Who was baptized here? William Wilberforce, in 1759.

Is it a working church? Yes, it is the Anglican parish church of Hull.

Before visiting, check the parish's current opening times, as they can vary with services and events.