The York church celebrated as 'birthplace of lesbian marriage'
Tucked away in a secluded street near York Minster, a stone's throw from one of the city's busiest shopping streets, is a church that played a fascinating role in lesbian history.Holy Trinity on Goodramgate, which dates back to the 12th Century, is where diarist and businesswoman Anne Lister "married" her partner, heiress Ann Walker, on Easter Sunday in 1834.Although same-sex marriage was not legal at the time, they took the sacrament together at Holy Communion and considered themselves wedded.Sarah Cowling, Churches Conservation Trust volunteer and Blue Badge tour guide, said that as a result, Holy Trinity really became the "birthplace of lesbian marriage".Although Lister's family owned the Shibden Hall estate near Halifax, she had a strong association with York, where she attended school and met many of her friends.After a two-year courtship with Walker, daughter of a Halifax landowner, Lister chose to take the sacrament to "have something as close to a marriage as they could possibly get", Ms Cowling said."In the February, they had pledged themselves to each other, and later on they had exchanged rings and made provisions to each other in their wills," she explained.Helena Whitbread, a historian and the editor and decoder of Lister's secret diaries, said she had three criteria for becoming "married": exchanging rings; declaring their love; and taking a vow before the altar. Lister wrote in her diary on 27 March 1834 that she and Walker were "positively engaged", Ms Whitbread said.
Then, on 30 March, the couple attended the Easter Sunday service at Holy Trinity in York - both wearing their wedding rings.Holy Trinity was chosen partly because the Holy Communion did not feature in many Anglican services. The tradition of sharing bread and wine was always part of a marriage ceremony."That was their opportunity between now and Christmas time to take Communion together," Ms Cowling said.The church was a convenient option as they both had appointments in nearby Minster Yard, and Walker was staying in the village of Heworth.Taking the sacrament was "momentous", Ms Cowling said."Lister's diaries are the first written record, and so the first clear intent we've got, of any two women deciding they want to live in a marital-style relationship. "Undoubtedly, women did before Anne, but we have no proof."However, Lister's intentions were not completely romantic: she wished to access Walker's considerable family fortune.Meanwhile, Ms Whitbread said it was also a way for Lister to affirm her gender identity."Anne needed to acquire the role of 'husband' in a relationship with a woman in order to boost her sense of her masculinity," she said."Psychologically, marriage is a necessity to Anne as a confirmation to herself that she has a right to marry - that is, to become a husband - a role which would bolster the masculine traits in her character."
However, Ms Whitbread added that there was evidence Walker did not attach as much value to the ceremony as Lister did."Even though they both had their rings on, she didn't seem to give as much importance to it," she said."It seemed a bit one-sided to me. In Anne's eyes, the ceremony should have sealed the matrimonial pact into which they had entered."Anne should have explained to Walker a bit more before going to the church, so Walker was more aware of the significance, but she didn't. "She knelt at the altar with her thoughts and prayers, then walked out."Walker later moved in with Lister and her family at Shibden Hall. Lister died in 1840 while travelling in Georgia with Walker, who died in 1854 having returned to live on her family's Crow Nest estate in Halifax.
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Lake District campers dump tent, rubbish and uncooked sausages
Campers have left a trail of rubbish including a tent, camping equipment and a mattress by a beauty spot in the Lake Millner said his dog found the mess south of Red Nab car park, on the western side of Windermere, on found socks discarded on trees, food and remnants of a fire which had been lit next to a tree, while his dog ate one of the uncooked sausages on the Millner said the littering was part of a "wider problem of respect for the landscape and for others". He said a volunteer came to clear the area after he posted photos of the abandoned camp on National Trust and the Lake District National Park Authority have been approached for comment. Wild camping is not permitted in the Lake District without the landowners permission, but the Lake District National Park Authority has said it is normally tolerated if people abide by a number of include camping above the highest fell wall and leaving no trace after moving on. Mr Millner, who lives in Bowness, said he often finds litter from abandoned campsites and barbeques, particularly after spells of hot weather. He said: "I have in the past found an abandoned campsite in the area complete with still wrapped camping chairs and copious amounts of used babies nappies."From April, Cumberland Council started using Public Space Protection Orders to tackle anti-social behaviour by so-called fly campers in the Lake National Trust previously said it spent about £1,000 repairing a single site that was damaged by campers last Andrew Wright, a woodland officer with United Utilities which owns land around Thirlmere and Haweswater, said he often saw "entire campsites abandoned". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Hull's Queen's Gardens opening date pushed back to 2026
Hull's revamped Queen's Gardens is now not expected to fully reopen until early May, the city council said it expected the project, costing more than £21m, to be completed later this authority insisted the delay was not due to any major setbacks, adding it was an update to the schedule. Leader Mike Ross said: "I know people are eager to see the gardens fully reopen, but work of this scale and quality takes time. We know that it's going to be fantastic when people are able to enjoy the space again." According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, much of the work had been completed, with two large ponds refurbished with new filtration systems and fountains. Ross said the area around the Rose Bowl fountain would reopen to the public "very soon".Recently, 1,280 wildflowers were visited the site to help plant blooms, such as foxgloves, primroses, bluebells and wood avens, which were provided by the charity Mires Beck in North Cave, the nursery provides opportunities for adults living with learning difficulties and physical disabilities, and is a leading supplier of Dutch, the charity's team leader, said it was a privilege to have been part of the project. Ross added: "We know that it's going to be fantastic when people are able to enjoy the space again."A tremendous amount of work has taken place and it will be a brilliant space for people to enjoy, whether it's just to come and spend time or for cultural events and other activities." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Five inner-city gardens in Toxteth show off their colours
Gardens nestled behind Georgian homes and back alleys in an inner city area of Liverpool have been opened up to show off their character and colour to the five urban gardens in Toxteth, some of which have been created by local residents, have been made accessible for tours as part of the national Open Gardens annual of the spaces is an alleyway between two derelict homes that was transformed into a winter garden and recently featured on Gardeners' World on include a private garden behind a Georgian terraced home, and a classically designed Spanish garden at St Philip Neri said the gardens were a "fascinating group, all within the historic heart of Liverpool". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
