Weekender: £3.9m grant secured for revamp of Hull Minster

A £3.9m grant to complete the redevelopment of Hull Minster into a hub for the city’s history, heritage and community has been announced following funding from Highways England.

The investment comes from a dedicated fund which is designed to protect historic features in areas near to major roads.

The Highways England Environment Designated Fund will safeguard the Minster’s heritage and create a “future for the church as a magnificent place of worship, focal point for the community and magnet for visitors.”

Highways England’s funding for the Minster allows for a number of improvements, including a glass, bronze and stone extension which will house a visitor and heritage centre with exhibition spaces, a café and other new visitor facilities.

The extension will lead into a “heritage corridor” within the church, creating a home for exhibits about the history of Hull and the central role the church has played in it.

Restoration and renovation work set to start this Spring.

The grant is linked to the proposed A63 Castle Street scheme, which passes just 100 metres from the church. This project is designed to improve access between the Port of Hull and the national road network via the city centre.

James Leeming, Highways England senior project manager, said: “It is a real pleasure to support an iconic venue like Hull Minster as part of our important work in the city.

“Our Designated Funds programme empowers us to invest in projects beyond our traditional schemes. The grant for Hull Minster will transform the church in the short term and build a brighter future in the long term.”

Further new features will include an education and learning centre, disabled access ramps and accessible toilets, a modern electrical system, and a community garden providing homegrown fruit and vegetables for the café.

The Vicar of Hull Minster, the Reverend Canon Dr Neal Barnes, said: “This is wonderful news for the Minster and the city of Hull. It will enable us to fulfil the Minster’s potential to be a hub for visitors and tourists to the historic Old Town.

“Maintaining a heritage asset is very expensive and draws resources away from the core work of the church, so this grant is particularly useful in sustaining our mission to be a positive force and a place of care, compassion and support.

“It means we can now put more of our own resources into our outreach work, our education programmes and our support for the most isolated and vulnerable members of our community.”

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