St. Charles Borromeo

Introduction

Saint Charles Borromeo in Hull opened in 1829 and was designed by local architect John Earle.

History

Around 1798 Fr Pierre Foucher financed the building of a small chapel on North Street. The mission and parish was earlier known as Saints Peter and Anne and then Saint Augustine. The statues of St Charles Borromeo and St Margaret Clitherow in the porch niches are the work of Hull sculptor Harry Ibbetson.

Music and liturgy

Music plays an important role in the life of St Charles, with musicians and singers enriching worship and special celebrations throughout the year. The St Charles Choir is one of the parish's volunteer groups.

Major solemnities such as Christmas Day, Easter Sunday, Pentecost, The Assumption, and All Saints draw the whole parish together, often marked by special liturgies, music and decoration. First Communion is celebrated on or near the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

Parish life

SVP volunteers visit individuals and families who may be lonely, unwell, or struggling financially, offering practical help and a listening ear. The SVP outreach extends to people of all faiths and none, in partnership with local organisations, schools, and community groups.

The parish includes people with roots in more than 27 countries across the world. The parish has a small shop in the entrance area offering devotional items and reading material, including histories of St Charles.

The parish has a weekly newsletter available at the back of the church and on the website. The parish has a repository run by volunteers. The parish has a group of catechists who prepare children and adults for the sacraments. The parish has volunteers who steward, clean, arrange flowers, welcome newcomers, and give time to practical tasks.

The parish is part of the Diocese of Middlesbrough and works in communion with neighbouring parishes. The RCIA course is offered annually, typically beginning in the Autumn. Adults interested in becoming Catholic or completing their sacraments can join the RCIA programme.