Hull’s Holy Trinity Church marked a new chapter in its remarkable 700-year history with the launch of a new brand and website this September.
The new brand, logo and Internet portal promote Holy Trinity, England’s largest parish church, as “an amazing place” with an extraordinary heritage, stunning architecture and spiritual depth, and reflect how it is now being used in many surprising and exciting ways by people from all walks of life.
The recent launch event was supported by a cross-section of community partners and friends, reflecting Holy Trinity’s mission to be as relevant now to the life of Hull as it has ever been.
The Vicar of Holy Trinity, the Rev Canon Dr Neal Barnes, said: “For the first time we have a brand, visual identity and website that, while respecting the past, reflect the reality of Holy Trinity today. This is a truly amazing place where people share amazing experiences.
“Holy Trinity is, of course, primarily a wonderful place of worship in a magnificent setting, rich in heritage. But it is also a surprising, vibrant and creative place, used by so many different people and community groups and playing an important part in the life of our great city.
“We have very exciting plans to make a major contribution to the regeneration of Hull as a centerpiece of the Old Town and we now have a high-quality brand and online presence that support those ambitions.”
Holy Trinity worked with award-winning brand specialists H&H, based in Hessle, to develop the new identity, which uses the H and T initials to echo the church’s profile against the Hull skyline, and a clean and contemporary website, with a new web address – www.holytrinityhull.com
H&H Director Hannah Thoresby said: “The creation of Holy Trinity’s new brand involved much more than a simple redesign of its logo. Working with Neal’s team we helped them to define their entire personality – from the way they communicate, behave and present themselves, to the way they get across everything that Holy Trinity offers to the people of Hull and beyond.
“We built the brand from the inside out - capturing the essence of Holy Trinity from its people, looking at who they are now, who they want to be and how they want people to perceive them. In this way we were able to articulate the brand in a way that truly reflects what Holy Trinity is now and its future ambitions.
“The new website is an important part of the brand launch, giving people a chance to connect with Holy Trinity in ways that they might not have considered possible in the past.”
Holy Trinity was founded by Edward I late in the 13th Century around the time he granted the former settlement of Wyke a Royal Charter and re-named it Kings Town upon Hull. The church is therefore as old as the city of Hull itself and a repository of so much of the city’s extraordinary history.
Holy Trinity was divided during the English Civil War, bombed in the First World War and, miraculously, spared in Hull’s Blitz of World War Two. Hull’s greatest son, the abolitionist William Wilberforce, was baptised in the font which is still used regularly for Christenings; the 17th poet Andrew Marvell worshipped at Holy Trinity; and the church is proud to be home to tributes to the city’s war dead and some of the many thousands from Hull lost at sea.
In recent years Holy Trinity has undergone a remarkable renaissance to become a vibrant, progressive presence in the city centre and a beacon for the revival of Hull’s Old Town. Services have been swelled by newcomers; Holy Trinity is reaching out to the community in many new and unexpected ways; and the breath-taking building has found new uses as a location for fashion shows, art installations, concerts and other cultural events … even beer festivals!
Kathryn Shillito, City Centre Manager of Hull Business Improvement District (BID), one of the community partners supporting the launch, said: “HullBID acknowledges the important and integral role Holy Trinity Church plays within Hull city centre. “In recent years we have witnessed the church really embedding itself into the community by hosting a range of activities and unique events including our own Hull Fashion Week, the Hull Trinity Music Festival and the popular CAMRA beer festival. “Neal Barnes and the Holy Trinity team have transformed the way in which the church is perceived. They have achieved a very good balance between opening up the church to a much wider audience without diminishing in any way respect for what it represents.”
Julie Buffey, who organises Trinity Open Market in Trinity Square and also joined the launch, said: “I love working with the team at Holy Trinity. They are so open to new ideas and, like us, are passionate about breathing new life into the Old Town. For me, the church is a key part of that.”
Holy Trinity Hull website: www.holytrinityhull.com
ABOUT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
• Holy Trinity is a unique and iconic place – a magnificent, vibrant place of worship offering a welcoming Christian presence in the heart of Hull’s Old Town.
• It is England’s largest parish church and Hull’s civic church. With its beautiful architecture and vast grandeur, Holy Trinity’s impact is jaw-dropping – it is an amazing place for all to use, enjoy and admire.
• Founded by Edward I late in the 13th Century, Holy Trinity is as old as the city of Hull itself. Indeed, it has been said that Hull’s history is written in its walls. It survived the convulsions of the English Civil War and bombing raids in both world wars. Hull’s most famous son, the abolitionist William Wilberforce, was baptised in the font used to this day. Holy Trinity also hosts memorials to Hull’s war dead and lost trawlermen. Holy Trinity is an amazing gift from our forebears that we are determined to treasure and pass to future generations.
• Our history is amazing, but so too is what is happening today to ensure Holy Trinity is as relevant now to the life of Hull as it has ever been. Our congregations are growing rapidly; we reach out to the community in new and surprising ways; and our majestic building is used regularly for exhibitions, concerts and cultural events, even beer festivals!
• Holy Trinity’s visitors have more than doubled in the past two years. Tens of thousands of people each year receive a warm greeting from our team of volunteer welcomers. Holy Trinity has been awarded a 2014 Certificate of Excellence by the internationally-renowned TripAdvisor website, based on a four-and-a-half star rating by visitors.
• Holy Trinity has an inspiring vision – to be a beacon for the regeneration of the Old Town of Hull, be a vital part of the city’s rebirth and be recognised and valued as a most amazing space for a multitude of uses.
