All Saints

There has been a church on the site of All Saints, Hessle, since Anglo Saxon times. Indeed, ever since there have been people here, there has been a site of Christian worship. The church is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, and we know the name of every vicar since 1202.

Hessle, called Hoesellea by the Anglians and Hase by the Normans, was a settlement, and a Parish, way before the creation of the nearby Kinston Upon Hull. Indeed, in 1293, when King Edward I bought land for his new bastide-style town, his grand new church, Holy Trinity, now renamed Hull Minster, was a ‘chapel of ease’, a daughter church to the more significant All Saints in Hessle. So it would remain for centuries.

The church has been rebuilt many times during its history, but as with so many historic buildings, elements remain from every era. The church was completely rebuilt in the reign of King Stephen, between 1135 and 1154. Stonework from that building remains today at the west end of the nave.

Sadly, the church was badly neglected in the 18th and early 19th centuries, making significant rebuilding essential. In 1840 the church was closed for two years because of the dangerous condition of the roof. We must never, ever again allow the church to be closed because of such danger - that is why today’s Tower Appeal is so very important.

The church was restored and considerably enlarged between 1868 and 1870, under the architect RG Smith of Hull. It was an extensive but sensitive rebuild - it is recorded that the original features of the church were so faithfully replaced that it is quite easy to realise what it was like prior to the enlargements - and indeed that remains the case until today.

Today the church is a thriving community or worship and service, used by hundreds of people every week, helping those in need, and a gathering place for young and old alike.