A long-running project to illuminate Hull’s historic Holy Trinity Church has been completed with an official switch-on by the partners behind the venture.

HullBID was at the centre of the scheme coordinating the involvement of the church Hull City Council  and the Diocese of York.
The partners overcame technical and logistical issues which threatened to create problems before a solution was found.
The project dates back to 2010, when the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, suggested to Dr Ian Kelly, Chief Executive of the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce and  BID Board Director, that floodlighting would enhance the Church, which is more than 700 years old and is the largest parish church in England.

HullBID City Centre Manager Kathryn Shillito then picked up the idea with with Rev Dr Neal Barnes, Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, as part of a wider discussion on how to increase use of the church by the local community, including businesses.
Kathryn said: “The project has taken a long time but I’m sure all involved would agree it’s been a worthwhile effort.
“Understandably the Diocese of York is very strict about what can be done and there are all sorts of other issues about protecting historic buildings.

“There was a point when it looked as though we might have to carry out disruptive works to enable the cabling, but by working our partners we found another solution and the effect is stunning. It has transformed the view of the western façade.”

A site survey by Kingstown Works Limited – a Council-owned construction and maintenance company – initially identified options for lighting the Church but the breakthrough came when a member of the Council’ s technical staff made contact with the lighting division of the Philips electronics group.

Kathryn added: “We were able to get Philips to bring a sample floodlight which wouldn’t necessitate disruptive works being done within the church or grounds.  We viewed the effect late one summer evening last year and it was superb.

“We also expanded the scheme by purchasing further equipment to illuminate the statue of Andrew Marvell”

In addition to the main floodlights that were funded by HullBID, KWL has contributed to the overall scheme by fitting uplighters to some of the trees in Trinity Square brightening and enhancing the environment further.

Dr Barnes added: “I am absolutely delighted and I am very grateful to HullBID and Hull City Council for making this happen.
“It makes you think about what light can do – we see that physically and spiritually Holy Trinity Church can be a beacon for the city.

“It is a beautiful building and a place where things are happening, with Trinity Square alive with people and festivals and the market.

“It ties in with the Purple Flag award and helps to make Hull city centre a place where people want to visit. The Church does look different because the lighting reveals things which you can’t see during the day, so I hope people take the opportunity to come and look before the evenings become lighter.”