Just a few of the churches and chapels where my Hull ancestors were married and baptised.
My (4 times) great-grandparents John Lamb and Charlotte Martin were married here in 1837. From the GENUKI website I discovered the following information - transcribed from the 1892 Bulmer's Gazetteer:
"Salem Chapel, Cogan Street, was formed in 1832 by 10 members from Fish Street, and in the following year the chapel was built. . . The interior has a gallery all round, and there are seats for 900 persons."
Not only had official civil registration just begun, when John and Charlotte married at Salem Chapel, but as the chapel was built around 1833, it was quite a new building at the time of their marriage.
It was, at the time, one of seven Congregationalist churches. Bulmer's Gazetteer also states: "Nonconformity appears to have flourished in Hull for upwards of two centuries and a half, the first congregation of Protestant Dissenters being constituted on the 22nd May, 1643 . . . A pamphlet, entitled "Hull's Pillar of Providence," published in 1644, shows that it was a place of refuge to many persecuted families." (For more information on other churches and chapels, see full page text on GENUKI.)
In recent years I've developed a real appreciation of nonconformist chapels. There are a lot surviving still, particularly in East Yorkshire, which was, it seems, rather a hotbed of religious nonconformity.
I don't think Salem Chapel still exists, however. JCR-UK records that the chapel was used as a synagogue by Hull's Jewish community, between 1914 and 1940, but it was apparently damaged during the bombings in World War Two, as were so many of Hull's buildings.
John and Charlotte's marriage certificate shows that the ceremony was conducted by James "Sibirr", Minister. This was a transcription error - his name was Sibree. Bulmers Gazetteer states that Rev. James Sibree, was the minister at this chapel for 50 years, and died in 1892.
The witnesses at my ancestors' wedding were Sarah Portors Dennison, and Martha Good "Sibrer". Martha was the minister's wife. The 1881 census shows James Sibree, and his wife Martha Good Sibree, living in Hull at 6 Tremayne Terrace, his occupation given as "Independent Minister". He's 75 here, so according to the details above, must have lived into his 80s. Martha died in 1888, aged 79.
Hull's historic church. Many of my ancestors were baptised at Holy Trinity, including Martin James Lamb (b1838), his wife Elizabeth Fox (b1836), and Marcus Lamb (b1862).
The Pevsner guide says that, by area, Holy Trinity is one of the largest English parish churches. It is also notable for another reason. "The transepts and the lowest stage of the crossing tower are of brick, and that is the earliest major case of the use of brick for a church in England," though much of the early brick was renewed in the 19th century (Pevsner).
The Genuki website has a description of the church from the 1820s.
My grandmother Doris was married here in 1930, and in her childhood went to the school next door. The Victorian church was built in 1847, and was, I've just discovered, one of the "Million Act Churches", built as part of a government-funded church building programme. (See the Genuki page on The "Million Act" Churches.) At the time, it served a well-populated industrial district.
After the Second World War much of the area was cleared and rebuilt. St Paul's was demolished in 1976 and a new church built in its place.