Dear friends, as we enter the holy season of Lent, we are invited once again into a precious time of renewal through, prayer, fasting and generosity. These forty days of Lent offer us a precious opportunity to draw closer to Christ, to reflect on His sacrifice, and to prepare our hearts for the great celebration of Easter. Lent calls each of us to walk more intentionally in faith and love.
This year, our Lenten journey is again made even more special as we accompany those on our Alpha course and others who are preparing for baptism and confirmation at the Easter Vigil. The Easter Vigil is one of the most beautiful and powerful liturgies of the Christian year, as we gather in darkness, light the new fire, and proclaim the resurrection of Christ. To witness new members being welcomed into the life of the Church on that holy night is a profound joy. I ask you to hold them in your prayers throughout this season—that they may be strengthened, encouraged, and filled with the Holy Spirit as they take this important step in their faith.
We also have much to give thanks for as we have been awarded a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) for the Sound Foundations project. This generous support will enable us to move forward in planning for the restoration of our Grand Organ and to establish a long-term maintenance plan for the Minster. Our organ has led worship for generations, lifting hearts and voices in praise, and this project will help ensure that it continues to inspire future generations. We are deeply grateful for this recognition of the Minster’s heritage and mission, and I look forward to sharing more details with you as the project progresses. James Cameron (Heritage Manager) is now working full time as we prepare for a major bid. The funding also allows us to continue the Volunteer Manager role and recruit a new Assistant Director of Music to support the growth of our musical offering.
As we journey together towards Holy Week and Easter, may this Lent be a time of grace for you and your loved ones. May it deepen your faith, renew your hope, and strengthen our life together as Christ’s Church.
With every blessing for a holy and fruitful Lent. Dominic
Canon Dominic Black, Vicar
Contents
Parish Pass - Dominic Black
Candlemas Evensong - new pieces & Radio 4 interview Mark Keith
Use of Video - Becky Howes
Join The Hull Minster Flower Arranging Team - Becky Irvin & Fiona Flowers
Huge thanks to Minster shop volunteers! - Sue McGaw
Girls Brigade - “Arting” - Gill Alden
Anglo Saxon Day - Becky Howes
Monday opening update - Shirley Kay
Spitfire - James Cameron
Our City Parade - Becky Howes
Feast of the Annunciation - Dominic Black
Marketing examples - Cafe hot drink offer, Beer Festival, Easter Services & Events
Thank you to everyone who provided content this month.
York Minster Parish Pass
We are part of the diocese of York, here is a pass to enter our Cathedral without paying the fee.
You can show this on your phone.
No need to print.
Candlemas Evensong - new pieces
Candlemas Evensong was a truly uplifting experience. We enjoyed beautiful music by Radcliffe, Jackson, and Eccard, along with a variety of psalm chants and hymns. It’s wonderful to have these pieces in our repertoire now—thank you to everyone who joined us!
Hear Musical Director Mark Keith on BBC Radio 4 22nd Feb 2026 talking about our wonderful choir.
Video
If you didn’t catch Katie Ogilvie and her video debut this month, you have missed a treat.
Thomas is embracing video to boost our social media platforms.
Look out for other church people taking to the airwaves.
You can see her on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok
She is talking about Brick Church and The Baptism of Jesus.
🌸 Join The Hull Minster Flower Arranging Team 🌸
Do you love flowers, creativity, or being part of something meaningful?
Hull Minster is looking for volunteers to join our friendly Flower Arranging Team.
No experience necessary – just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn!
You’ll be guided and supported by Fiona, our proficient Minster Flower Arranger, as you discover the skills and craft of flower arranging in the unique and inspiring setting of a historic Minster church.
✨ What you’ll gain:
Learn traditional and contemporary flower arranging techniques
Work with beautiful flowers in a stunning sacred space
Be part of a welcoming, supportive team
Contribute to the life, worship, and celebrations of Hull Minster
🌿 Who can volunteer?
Anyone! Whether you’re completely new or already enjoy flowers, we’d love to hear from you.
If you’d like to learn a new skill, meet new people, and help make Hull Minster a beautiful and welcoming place, we’d be delighted to welcome you.
📩 For more information or to get involved, please email office@hullminster.org
Huge thanks to Minster shop volunteers!
The Minster shop had its best year ever in 2025, with a profit of £23,282, with every penny going back into the mission and ministry of Hull Minster. We want to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who work in the shop throughout the year, even the Minster mice - one of the best-selling items are cheering! Thank you for gifting your time and serving our visitors so well. We look forward to another excellent year ahead.
🌸Girls Brigade 🌸
For the first half term this year, as our wonderful leader, Lauren, is on maternity leave, we have been blessed with the presence of Alison from Arting who has used our Spring Badge theme to work to teach us different art techniques. This is her summary of working with Girls Brigade:
'The Girl's Brigade welcomed me into their Tuesday evening sessions at The Minster and were ready to embrace all things art! We started with watercolour paintings of daffodils to remind us that at this time of year, life is renewing and new growth is appearing: the group learned watercolour techniques and enjoyed looking carefully at the flowers. Our second session had a focus on caring for creation and the group all enjoyed getting messy with clay. They designed and made a small bird sculpture, with some sitting in twiggy nests... Collage was our third technique with a theme of helping things grow and the group experimented with paint crystals to create their own unique paper flower garden. For week four we moved on to thinking about Easter and the group made Easter cards by drawing and printing motifs inspired by the Minster interior and for our final session we discussed friendship and all that it means. The group used branches and flowers to paint a blossom tree canvas and some art for their display board: the blue skies and pink blooms reminded us that Spring will be here soon! I was honoured to present the girls with their Spring Badges and received some flower seeds to grow in return, overall, a great experience for everyone involved.'
Thank you to Alison and to the Grammer School Trust for their financial support in funding this half term.
Anglo Saxon Day
We had a good turn out with plenty of children enjoying the fighting. Some of the staff had more fun than the kids with the dress up!
Monday, from 6th April 2026 10 - 4pm
This is just to let you know that it has been decided, that, the church will commence opening to visitors on a Monday, from 6th April 2026 10 - 4pm. Not the 23rd February as planned. This is to give us time to populate the rota and will be further into the tourist season.
For volunteers & Duty Manager's, you will now see Mondays on the rota from this date. Please feel free to sign up to volunteer for those shifts.
Please note - there may be on occasion, a Monday where we have to close due to private functions or maintenance. We will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible when appropriate.
Many thanks
Shirley
I would like to thank those people who have been helping to distribute our recent marketing material. People have been taking posters around, taking leaflets home and giving leaflets out to each and every visitor. Your efforts here have not gone unnoticed and it is a vital part of our efforts to get our messages out to the people of Hull. Thank you
Becky
