A major upgrade of Hull Minster’s audio-visual system has been completed as the latest phase of the mediaeval building’s transformation to meet 21st-century needs.

Installation of the Yamaha system is part of the multi-million pound project to restore and re-equip England’s largest Parish Church to accommodate changing patterns of use and rising visitor expectations.

Founded under King Edward I and known as Holy Trinity Church until it was re-named Hull Minster by Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu during Hull’s year as UK City of Culture in 2017, the church has been a place for worship and community use for as long as Kingston-upon-Hull has existed as a settlement.

By the early 2000s Hull had the lowest church attendance in the United Kingdom, so the Minster’s leadership has long been committed to making it accessible and attractive to a wider range of users. The ‘Amazing Transformation’ is radically updating its facilities for worship and pastoral care, and turning it into a high quality performance and arts venue and a centrepiece of the city’s Old Town.

In 2016 work on the churchyard was completed, creating a large outdoor space for community and church events.

The Minster’s fixed pews have been moved to the side of the nave, opening a large, flexible space reminiscent of the medieval church and suitable for concerts, performances and banquets, as well as worship.

Installation of new underfloor heating meant replacing the entire floor of the nave. This gave SFL Group the opportunity to route wiring for a new Dante audio network beneath it.

The Minster’s community minister Daniel Broom (lower picture) says, “The new floor and heating were a vital part of making the Minster more inviting. Gone are the days of freezing while listening to sermons and presentations. Now it’s a welcoming space, whatever the weather.”

“We hope that this major investment will bring wide-ranging benefits,” adds Daniel. “In terms of worship facilities and those coming to us for support, we will be able to serve the community more effectively. The installation complements our vision; Hull Minster: Your Place to Worship, Enjoy, Explore and Belong.

“It will also enable us to use the building to its full potential. Through hiring our spaces we can become financially stable, using the surplus income for pastoral care and missionary work within the wider community.”

James Symonds, events co-ordinator at the church commented, “Hull Minster is fast becoming renowned as a place for great events and concerts both from its setting within 700 years of history, but also with the ability to achieve almost all types of musical styles through the in-house system. This negates the need to bring in external PA companies to provide even the simplest of sound reinforcement systems.”

  • Hull Minster is available for hire most days and evening of the week for all types of events. Please contact events@hullminster.org.

Hull Minster