Hull, The Minster.

Dedicated to the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity.

Hull Minster, image copyright Peter Church

Hull, The Minster

The Wilberforce Bells

From 1648 - 1652 there was a ring of six bells cast by George Oldfield of Nottingham, in 1727 these bells were recast, by Henry Penn of Peterborough, into a ring of eight bells with a tenor weighing 21 cwt in the key of E. Owing to the poor quality of some of the bells recasting was again necessary, Viz. 4th and 5th in 1747 by Thomas Lester, the 6th in 1759 by Lester & Pack, the 7th in 1802 by James Harrison and the Tenor in 1821, also by James Harrison, and increased in weight to 22.0.22.

In 1898 the general condition of the bells was still very poor, and the City Council and the church decided to have all the bells recast and retuned, and to add two new bells; a Treble (F#) and a Tenor (D). Mr. Charles Jackson was the steeple-keeper at this time and deserves the credit for this project.

The next major extension to the ring was in 1959 when the present steeple-keeper, Mr. David Stipetic, purchased the old ring of eight bells from St. James Parish Church, Myton (Hessle Road) in Hull. The 7th and Tenor of this ring were used to augment the ring at Holy Trinity and the cost of the recasting was met by the City Council to celebrate the bi-centenary of the birth of William Wilberforce (1759). The bells were cast on Friday 18th December 1959.

Mr. Stipetic purchased the calling bells from St. Barnabas and Transfiguration churches in Hull and these were used to cast the flat sixth bell for Holy Trinity on Friday 30th May 1975. Mr. Stipetic also gave the Top Treble bell, cast from new metal on Friday 26th April 1979, and the Sharp Second bell which was cast from new metal on Friday 25th February 1983.

The installation at Holy Trinity is the only one of its kind in the world. It consists of:
Major Key: 1 ring of 13, 1 of 12, 2 of 10, 3 rings of 8, 4 rings of 6, 5 rings of 5.
Minor Key: 1 ring of 12, 1 of 10, 2 of 8.
There are also many modal rings.

Holy Trinity has enjoyed a number of dedicated ringers who have made large contributions to ringing both in Hull and the surrounding area. Mr. Charles Jackson was steeple-keeper at Holy Trinity for 50 years from 1871 until his death in 1921. He was born in Hull in 1850 and was the composer and conductor of many peals, mostly of Grandsire, indeed he was known locally as the "Grandsire King". Mr. Jackson was one of the founders of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers and served as a Steward and Trustee of the Association for many years.

Mr. George Forbes Williams was born in Ireland in 1882. He came to Hull during the Great War (1915) and was soon appointed assistant to Mr. Jackson. Mr. Williams was a member of the Yorkshire Association from 1907, and was one of the founders of the Beverley and District Society in 1946. The Society was founded on Monday 19th August 1946 in the choir vestry of Holy Trinity Church and Mr. Williams became the first president. He was a well-known and respected composer and conductor; he died in 1956 aged 74 years.

Mr. David Vincent Stipetic was appointed steeple-keeper in 1957; he was taught to ring in 1951 at St. Mary's Lowgate Hull by Mr. Clement Robinson of Sutton. Mr. Stipetic has been responsible for the augmentation of Holy Trinity bells from 10 to 15. He has been clock custodian to the city Council since 1962.

Bell Note Weight Diameter Date Name Role
Treble B 4.0.12 2' 0" 1979 De-La-Pryme Top Treble
2 A 4.3.1 2’ 1.5” 1959 Helleward
3 G# 5.0.14 2’ 2.5” 1983 Thurescrosse Sharp Second
4 G 5.0.2 2’ 2.5” 1959 De-La-Pole
5 F# 5.2.2 2’ 3.5” 1899 Alcock
6 E 5.3.26 2’ 5” 1899 De-Crosse
7 D 6.1.16 2’ 6.5” 1899 Ferres
8 C# 7.0.4 2’ 7.625” 1899 Crowle
9 C 7.0.3 2’ 8.5” 1975 Wilberforce Flat 6th
10 B 7.1.4 2’ 9.5” 1899 Marvell
11 A 8.0.25 3’ 0” 1899 Milner
12 G 11.0.9 3’ 4” 1899 Bromby
13 F# 13.1.15 3’ 6.25” 1899 Bentley
14 E 18.0.9 3’ 10.875” 1899 Hammerton
Tenor D 25.2.18 4’ 5” 1899 Jackson

Cast by John Taylor & Co. Founders, Loughborough.

The eight bell frame was constructed in 1727, and this was extend-ed in 1899 for ten bells, the frame being made of oak. Additional framework Was added in 1960, 1975, 1979 and 1990 for the new bells; these additions were of cast iron.

The bells bear the following inscriptions; the 1899 bells (i.e. 5,6,7,8,10,11,12,13,14 and Tenor):

To the glory of God the peal of 8 bells in' this Church were recast and 2 added making a peal of 10 bells, 1899. -o- Joshua Hughes Games, D.C.L. Vicar.
W.H.Welstead )
) Churchwardens
C.R. Moxon )
Alderman P.T. Crook, Mayor, 1898
Chairman of the Restoration Committee H. Whittick, Sheriff, 1898
John Taylor & Co. Founders Loughborough.

The Treble bell: THE FLAT SIXTH BELL AND I WERE GIVEN by David V Stipetic, Steeple-Keeper. John Taylor & Co. Founders, Loughborough 1979.
Bells 2 and 4: William Wilberforce Bi-Centenary, 24th August 1959. John Taylor & Co. Founders, Loughborough.
Bell 3: DAVID V. STIPETIC GAVE ME. John Taylor & Co. Founders, Loughborough. 1983
Bell 9: Earth at the solemn sound awake,
Thou air with measured tremor shake
Let distant hills return their lays.
John Taylor & Co. Founders, Loughborough, 1975.

David V Stipetic

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