Pickering Parish Church has one of the most complete sets of medieval wall-paintings in this country. They are increasingly being talked of by experts as amongst the most important in northern Europe. They are exciting to see, and almost all visitors to the church can be heard gasping with surprise and delight as they enter!
So what is to be found? Opposite the door a massive St Christopher, Patron Saint of Travellers, wading through water and fishes swimming around the giant's feet; next to him England's Patron Saint George lancing a fierce dragon. There are various grisly executions of saints: John the Baptist is beheaded; St Catherine (of firework fame) is broken on a wheel; Archbishop Thomas Becket martyred in Canterbury Cathedral. St Edmund (ie Bury St Edmund's) is shot with arrows ... There is a depiction of the Passion, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus - including a rare Descent into Hell - and wonderful pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and some fine 15th century faces peering down on you from on high. Bring binoculars to see them properly!
Pickering Church itself is fantastic. The present building dates back to the early 12th century, making it Pickering's oldest building, and it's the only building in Pickering open every single day, 365 days a year, from 8.30am to 5pm. But be warned: although the spire makes it a landmark for miles around, the church is surrounded with shops and houses, so people don't always notice the steps leading up to it, even though it is in the very centre of this ancient Market Town.
Why are the paintings here? Well, that's an even more fascinating story. They were painted originally in about 1450: all old churches would have had something similar. However, at the Reformation all such images were ordered to be destroyed or covered over, and this is what happened at Pickering. But then, in 1852, the wall-paintings were rediscovered and uncovered. Only, the Vicar didn't like them ('too popish', he said), and had them whitewashed over! Mercifully, in the 1880s a more enlightened Vicar had them restored.
Anything else to do? There are services almost every day in church, though Sunday is especially busy, with an 8am service of Holy Communion; a sung Parish Eucharist at 10am, and Evensong at 6pm. Look at our church website for details. Pickering's Parish Church is, though, a place with quite a large (and growing) congregation, noted for its high standards of worship and preaching. If here at Christmas, don't miss the amazing Midnight Mass by Candlelight!
On Mondays from Easter to the end of October coffee, tea and homemade cakes are on sale from 10am-12noon - a good place to relax from shopping in the market - but Pickering's ancient Parish Church is a vibrant place to visit or worship at anyway.
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