ST Mary's Hook 800+ update

At a public Wine and Cheese evening held in 798 year old St Mary’s Church, Hook, Nr. Goole in
the East Riding of Yorkshire, on the evening of Tuesday 23rd May, the vicar, Philip Ball detailed
why this wonderful church could well be closed and lost to the community and area
within this generation.

He and others then went on to outline how an 800th Anniversary Restoration project,
ST MARY’S HOOK 800+ by doing something based deeply in the heritage and history of the
building which also contains 21st Century ideas and thinking 

“gives a very strong change of saving the church for now and the foreseeable future
– the next 100 years.” he claimed (Philip Ball, Vicar of St Mary’s Hook).

Click Here to View the Presentation on YouTube

This project, it was explained, is aimed at preserving and retaining forever the nationally significant
heritage and history of this Early English Grade II* listed church, which contains amongst many
other beautiful stained glass windows a unique window with Queen Victoria in a Wheel Chair
wearing glasses, some fine examples of medieval stonework, wall paintings (possibly medieval), what
may be a Saxon arch, ornately carved 16th, 17th, 19th and 20th Century furnishings, twenty century
organ and ‘the story of 500 years of burial told – through more unique items including an 180 year
old Oak Memorial Board, and Cholera Grave Markings.

It stands on the sight of the Mediaeval Manor House,

where the Lord of the Manor who was for a while High Sheriff of Yorkshire, lived.

The interior of this small church will be returned to how it most likely was for it’s first 550 years
with level floors and flexible seating in the Nave. This by ‘Creating Space for Your Community to
Flourish’, will facilitate the use of this stunning space for small groups, children’s activities, school
work, art, coffee mornings, education, heritage groups, exhibitions, displays, concerts, lectures, more
flexible forms of church worship and traditional services including beautiful baptisms and weddings
as well as supportive funerals and other appropriate events and activities.

St Mary’s will then be like many of our Cathedrals (York Minster, Salisbury, St Paul’s, Westminster
Abbey – to name a few) and many village churches, which have a chancel with permanent, heritage
seating, but a Nave with stackable, moveable chairs. There will also be an internal, disabled access
toilet, high quality bespoke refreshment and storage facilities, underfloor heating, better audio
visual provision and heritage information.

Mr Melvyn Rose gave a presentation about how St Andrew’s in Epworth has benefited from a
similar project. The architect Tom Crooks detailed the quality and bespoke nature of the proposals,
Dave Roffey gave information about upcoming fund raising events including Sponsored Walk of the
Dales Way and Hook Church Run.

For more information on upcoming events please click here.

Jon Kenny explained about archaeological
work which has been going on, Thanks were given to those who’ve supported the project so far,
particularly, Howden’s Kitchens, The Sotheron and Blacksmith’s Arms, Hook Village Shop, Rob
Parkinson and Vicky Lawson, those who’ve cycled and many others who’ve contributed in many
ways to enable the church to get to this stage where the plans have been drawn up and
permissions for the work are in place.

A project to ‘sponsor a chair, in memory of someone, for a good cause or as a way of saving the
church’, was launched The vicar showed off a sample of the chair which is to be used which he said:
“ is of a similar style, colour and design to those used in Westminster Abbey at the Coronation”.

Henry Cook the project Treasurer gave details about the budget and how by a combination of fund
raising events, grants, financial support from local people and organisations and volunteering the
estimated £500 000 need to complete all the works which should keep the church in good
condition for the next 100 years of its life can and will be raised.

This will be achieved in phases with £8000 being spent in the next weeks on works to move and
replace the ageing oil tank, £60 000 enabling the first Tranch of internal works and £110 000 more
enabling the completion of all that there is current permissions for. He detailed how local people
and organisations can support this work through volunteering, helping with grant applications,
donations, joining in fund raising events or organising more. He also gave details of how to buy a
pew and said ‘the longer ones can be cut down to still make a wonderful piece of furniture, but
which fits in a modern house’.

The vicar thanked everyone for attending and opportunity was given for the guests to
look around the building, at various displays and information and talk with those involved.
The presentation has been recorded and is available on the church youtube channel which can be
accessed here:

Click here to view the Presentation on YouTube

He and others involved are available to talk
with anyone about this project or how they can be involved.