by John Prince
After years of dedicated service, Rev Tina Minett Stevens, the vicar of Hornsea’s St Nicholas Church, is preparing to leave, closing a memorable chapter in her church career.
Her departure marks the end of a ministry that has touched many lives in the town, blending faith, compassion and community spirit.
In February Tina will be moving to Scotland, where she will be taking up the position as the new Priest in Charge at St Mary’s Church in Birnam, just north of Perth.
She has been one of the most recognised figures in Hornsea, and has been central to both church and community life.
Born on Christmas Day in 1968, Rev Tina is originally from Wimbotsham near King’s Lynn in Norfolk. The youngest of four siblings, she has been going to church from being a child, having attended Sunday school at her local Methodist church.
Her life in East Yorkshire began when she came to the University of Hull to study maths. There she met her husband Darren, and after a number of years working in social care with adults with learning disabilities and as a maths teacher, her calling to the church led her to theology college in Mirfield in West Yorkshire in 2012.
At college she trained as a curate in Scarborough. She was ordained in the Diocese of York and came to Hornsea in December 2017, where she has been ever since.
Rev Tina said: “I’d always gone to church. My three siblings and me went together in our small village.
“We were brought up by Anglican parents and we had a very happy childhood. We were just free to be.
“My title is Reverend but all of us are curates in the sense that we are the curers of souls, which means I’m responsible for the care of everyone in the parishes I serve.
“That’s been 9,000 people in Hornsea, Atwick and Skipsea whether they come to church or not.
“People tend to put you on a pedestal, but God has called me to do this, and I’ve been equipped by the church to do it so I feel very blessed.
“The responsibility can be very heavy, and it was a steep learning curve for me. Even with my life experience before, it’s been a huge step up.
“It has been my decision to move. I went away on a sabbatical over the summer and I had no intention of leaving Hornsea then at all.
“Every 10 years, clergy have an opportunity to have three months extended study leave. As part of that, I had a month at a silent retreat and it was transformative for me.
“I came out of it and I was just browsing jobs, and I came across one at the seaside looking after two parishes on the east coast of Scotland.
“My fantasy job has always been to be the vicar of Orkney but there wasn’t one going. So I sat on it for a couple of days, got in touch, then quite soon after I was able to speak directly with the Bishop. He told me there was another position in Birnam, and would I consider it.
“The church is slightly different in Scotland and I didn’t think I had the experience. I was on holiday in the Scottish Borders and I met with the Bishop and I went and had a look around.
“So I had a think and I prayed about it, and I felt it was somewhere that God could be calling me to. I had a meeting and spoke with people at the church, and the next morning they called me and asked if I’d like to come.
“Birnam is just over the River Tay from Dunkeld which is linked with the centre of Christianity in Scotland. It’s a small and vibrant community like Hornsea, and there’s so much going on.
“I said when I arrived in Hornsea that I would only move on if God or the Bishop asked me to, and in this case it was God.”
From Sunday services to school visits, civic and charity events, and pastoral care, Rev Tina has brought warmth and energy to the town. Her ministry has been marked by inclusivity and a deep concern for people’s wellbeing, offering comfort in times of grief and celebrating moments of joy.
Just some of her many achievements have been backing the funding for the First Aid Centre at Tesco, improving the church buildings in Skipsea and at St Nicholas, and securing grants to bring the Parish Hall in Hornsea back into community use.
She has also worked very hard with the group Christians Together, which is thriving in a town of six different church communities.
Rev Tina added: “People have been coming up to me and saying, ‘I hear you’re leaving’. It’s little things like that, that are amazing. They are heartfelt and genuine and that means far more than anything.
“A vicar is always on duty. You’re always listening to people. Even when I’m just walking down the street people will come up and speak to you. As a vicar I’m there for everyone, whether I’ve got my collar on or not.
“I find working and serving families at times of funerals has been a hugely important part of my ministry here. It’s something we try to do well and appropriately.
“One of the biggest changes has been at Remembrance, seeing so many people at the Memorial Gardens and watching the parade. It’s seeing the generations mixing together which is lovely.
“It’s true that people are coming to church less, but I don’t think it’s because people of faith have stopped believing. It’s a combination of many factors, and there are so many other things people can do rather than come to church.
“Society has changed so much over the past 40 or 50 years, and there is more happening on Sundays now. Young people do sports, and families come together on what could be the only day of the week that they’re able to.
“Life can be so busy and we acknowledge that, and we try help people with faith outside of those times. Of course, we always celebrate Christmas and Easter with everyone.
“The world is not as settled and calm as it once was, and people are worrying about the future and their place in the world.
“God often gets the blame when things go wrong which is fine, but we must also celebrate God when things go right and be thankful of the good times. People are still searching for goodness, and we have to remember that God’s love is there for everyone.
“As a community we have achieved so much. I have a real sense of satisfaction seeing how far we’ve come.
“Whatever the job is that God called me here to do, it feels done. It feels complete.”