New Priest-in-Charge of Hull Minster, the Reverend Dominic Black, will be licensed to start his new job by the Bishop of Hull, the Right Reverend Alison White, at a small spatially-distanced ceremony at the Minster on Wednesday 8th July.
Mr Black (pictured with his wife, Heather) will arrive by bike, having pedalled from his current church of the Holy Trinity, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough on the Tees Estuary, to his new church, Hull Minster, which is also dedicated to the Holy Trinity, on the Humber.
Accompanied by his younger son Ben (14), his 100-mile route will include a staged stop at York Minster, the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of York.
Mr Black, who whenever possible cycles for work, said, “When I saw the radical plans to promote cycling in Hull and it was clear that we couldn’t have a large public service there was only one way for me to arrive!
“I am coming to the Minster at a pivotal time; the word Minster comes from an Anglo-Saxon word for a community of prayer and mission that went out to proclaim the Christian faith in word and deed.
“The City of Hull has one of the lowest rates of churchgoing in Western Europe. My prayer, coming to serve here, is that the people of the city might find again the joy of the Gospel that inspired those who boldly built this great building.
“Holy Trinity Church – Hull Minster – wasn’t built to be a museum but as a bold statement of future hope. Thanks to the work led by Neal Barnes as Vicar and continued recently by Bishop Frank White as Interim Minister, there has been a remarkable physical transformation of the building in the last few years which speaks anew of this hope.”
Dominic Black has been in ministry for 22 years, beginning as a Curate in Orchard Park, Hull, before becoming Vicar of North Ormesby. He has always been involved in renewing the worship and life of the church, practically supporting people and building community in places where life is tough. As part of his role as parish priest he will have particular pastoral responsibility for the Great Thornton Street Estate.
“A healthy church is one that is diverse, outward looking and willing to work with all people of good will for the common good.”
Bishop of Hull the Right Reverend Alison White said, “The Minster is at the heart of our great City and it is a special joy to welcome Dominic Black who brings his gifts and energy as we work together to see this place flourish.”
The Churchwardens of Hull Minster, Robin Alden and Iain Ogilvie, said, “We are delighted to welcome Dominic to lead the team here at the Minster. We look forward to building on what we have achieved in recent years and, with our next phase of development ready to commence and a new priest, we step out in faith with confidence.”